N Ireland hospital critical beds crisis after flu patients swamp unit

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Northern Ireland hospital's critical beds crisis after flu patients swamp unit

By Moulton Friday, 7 January 2011

Seriously ill patients are not being admitted to the critical care unit of a

Northern Ireland hospital because all its beds are being occupied by flu

patients.

Yesterday it emerged that almost half of all intensive care beds in the province

were being used by influenza victims. The outbreak has also caused some elective

surgery to be postponed.

Dundonald's Ulster Hospital has no beds available in its £53m intensive care

unit (ICU) — and even has one seriously-ill patient isolated in a theatre room.

Last night a South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust spokeswoman confirmed

its unit was " oversubscribed " ...

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/health/northern-ireland-hospitalrsquos-cr\

itical-beds-crisis-after-flu-patients-swamp-unit-15048038.html