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| Pressure mounts at city hospitals | Pressure mounts at city hospitals |
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| Belfast's hospitals have said they have been 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, 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, City and 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". |
| Charlie Martin, the Ulster's medical director, said cases of the winter flu bug had been a "significant contributory factor" in the closure. | Charlie Martin, the Ulster's medical director, said cases of the winter flu bug had been a "significant contributory factor" in the closure. |
| "We also serve a wide catchment area and we have an elderly population," he said. | "We also serve a wide catchment area and we have an elderly population," he said. |
| "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." | "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". |
| 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 had to cancel some operations because of the number of patients with flu symptoms. |