A LEADING health expert has warned that everyday trauma care may not be possible to deliver in hospitals due to pressure caused by Covid-19.
Niall Eames, who is the clinical director of orthopaedics at the Royal Victoria and Musgrave Park hospitals, made the grim warning as the coronavirus death toll in the north rose to 21 yesterday and the number of people testing positive reached 410.
Thousands of healthcare staff are bracing themselves for a wave of Covid-19 cases in the coming weeks as the pandemic reaches its peak.
Mr Eames last night urged members of the public to take extra care with their health and warned that the usual standards of care may not be available as the crisis deepens.
“Because of the coronavirus pandemic the health service is under immense , pressure we have never seen before,” he said.
Health Minister Robin Swann urges public to do everything possible to avoid accidents throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.https://t.co/8FI0BRiQkI pic.twitter.com/WXSoxQDHV2
— Department of Health (@healthdpt) March 29, 2020
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“The service people normally expect to get might not be available and anything we can do to reduce people going to hospital would be a great help.”
Mr Eames said people should take care with everyday tasks around the house and while out and about on the roads.
“We need people to look after themselves and stop people hurting themselves,” he said.
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He warned that risky activities such as climbing ladders and DIY tasks should be avoided in order minimise the risk of harm.
“We will do our best to treat everyone but the normal service we try to provide we are going to struggle to provide because of the immense pressure the health service is coming under.”
