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Announced by the Department of Health in Northern Ireland, health and social care services will receive an additional £3 million to help combat increased demand over winter.

The new funding comes in addition to the £11 million already allocated to Health and Social Care trusts across the country to reduce winter pressures.

This extra funding is aimed to target different areas, such as recruitment of additional staff, care package provision for people with dementia, and procurement of disability and community care equipment.

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Patients in Northern Ireland currently experience long waiting times in emergency departments due to the demands hospitals face during winter, including staffing, community care and bed capacity.

One of the main reasons for a rising demand in emergency departments is the increasing numbers of older people with multiple health issues, which often leads to longer patient stays and more complex community care packages when they are discharged.

Through a targeted approach, data released for the period between December 24th 2018 and January 15th 2019 shows that emergency departments in Northern Ireland are performing better than the same period for the previous year, despite a rise in attendances and admissions.

However, demands in emergency departments have continued to increase recently, so trusts across Northern Ireland have worked together to try and control the situation.

Department of Health Permanent Secretary Richard Pengelly said: “We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to staff for working through these pressures. We are sorry that too many patients continue to experience long waits. All feasible steps to ease the pressures are being taken.

“Every one of us can also all do our bit to help staff help us. That means using services appropriately and doing all we can to help stay well.”

For the future, the Department of Health has said that it will review urgent and emergency care in hospitals across the country. Its aim is to establish a regional care model to meet the demands of an ageing population.

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https://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/rollator.jpghttps://thiis.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/rollator-150x150.jpgSarah SarsbyGovernment & Local AuthoritiesInvestments & FundingNewsroomageing population,community care equipment,Department of Health,emergency departments,funding boost,Health and Social Care trusts,health service,healthcare sector,hospitals,mobility products,Northern ireland,Northern Ireland Government,social careAnnounced by the Department of Health in Northern Ireland, health and social care services will receive an additional £3 million to help combat increased demand over winter. The new funding comes in addition to the £11 million already allocated to Health and Social Care trusts across the country to reduce...News, views & products for mobility, access and independent living professionals