A and E Departments Debate

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Department: Department of Health and Social Care

Jim Shannon

Main Page: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)

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Closure of Rhyl Crown Post Office

A and E Departments

Jim Shannon Excerpts

Point of Order
Tuesday 21st May 2013

(11 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Jeremy Hunt Portrait Mr Hunt
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We absolutely need better alternatives to A and E, but let me remind the hon. Lady that if we followed her party’s Front-Bench policy of cutting the NHS budget from its current levels, many more urgent and walk-in centres would have to be closed.

Jim Shannon Portrait Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)
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In Northern Ireland as in England there have been lots of problems with increasing numbers presenting at A and E. The Northern Ireland Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety introduced the triage system, which enabled more effective processing of patients and allowed people to get the level of care and medical attention they needed. Will the Secretary of State agree to discussions with that Northern Ireland Minister to see what can be learned from what has been done in Northern Ireland?

Jeremy Hunt Portrait Mr Hunt
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I always welcome discussions with the devolved Administrations to see what we can learn. Better triaging at the point of entry to A and E is certainly one of the things that makes a difference between A and E trusts that are managing to meet their targets despite very high pressures and those that are not.

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