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Pressure mounts at city hospitals Pressure mounts at city hospitals
(19 minutes later)
Belfast's hospitals are under "extreme pressure" dealing with emergencies. Belfast's hospitals have said they have been under "extreme pressure" dealing with emergencies.
It follows the closure of the A & E department at the Ulster Hospital at Dundonald to some admissions. It follows the closure of the A&E department at the Ulster Hospital, Dundonald to some admissions.
A spokesperson for the Royal, the City and the Mater said they were doing their best to cope and "treat patients safely". A spokesperson for the Royal, City and Mater said they were doing their best to cope and "treat patients safely".
The problem is expected to persist until Thursday morning and patients are advised to stay away unless it is an absolute emergency. Charlie Martin, the Ulster's medical director, said cases of the winter flu bug had been a "significant contributory factor" in the closure.
The Ulster Hospital at Dundonald has had to divert emergencies to other Belfast hospitals due to an unprecedented number of admissions. "We also serve a wide catchment area and we have an elderly population," he said.
They are advising members of the public not to go to the hospital unless it is extremely urgent. "When these people get the flu and get respiratory illnesses they're particularly sick and spend a lot longer in hospital and take longer to recover."
Earlier on Wednesday, the Ulster advised members of the public not to go to the hospital unless it was extremely urgent.
In a statement, the hospital said a "range of measures were in place to manage the situation".In a statement, the hospital said a "range of measures were in place to manage the situation".
It said staff were working with Belfast Trust colleagues to ensure all patients across the area were being treated.It said staff were working with Belfast Trust colleagues to ensure all patients across the area were being treated.
The hospital said it had put "a temporary divert on all ambulances arriving at the hospital, within agreed protocols".The hospital said it had put "a temporary divert on all ambulances arriving at the hospital, within agreed protocols".
It said the situation was well "under control", but some patients were "experiencing longer than acceptable waiting times for admission to hospital".It said the situation was well "under control", but some patients were "experiencing longer than acceptable waiting times for admission to hospital".
"Until this situation eases, we would appeal to the general public to be patient at this time as waiting times will be longer than usual," the statement added.
John Compton, Chief Executive of the South Eastern Trust, said "dedicated staff were working flat out in very difficult circumstances".John Compton, Chief Executive of the South Eastern Trust, said "dedicated staff were working flat out in very difficult circumstances".
Earlier this month, the Northern Health Trust cancelled all non-urgent elective surgery at Antrim and Causeway hospitals, as resources were stretched.Earlier this month, the Northern Health Trust cancelled all non-urgent elective surgery at Antrim and Causeway hospitals, as resources were stretched.
It said both hospitals had seen increased numbers of people, particularly the elderly, with flu-like symptoms and chest infections.It said both hospitals had seen increased numbers of people, particularly the elderly, with flu-like symptoms and chest infections.
The Belfast Health Trust also said that the number of patients with flu symptoms had led to some operations being cancelled.The Belfast Health Trust also said that the number of patients with flu symptoms had led to some operations being cancelled.