Our staff went above and beyond during Storm Éowyn: Health Minister

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has thanked staff across the health and social care system and partner agencies for their response to Storm Éowyn.

Although there was severe disruption to services on Friday, including postponement of most outpatient appointments and non-emergency surgery, the system was able to operate largely as normal over the weekend.

Health and Social Care Trusts are continuing to liaise closely with a range of agencies to ensure that clinically vulnerable service users are prioritised for assistance where required, and are working at pace to reschedule postponed appointments and surgical procedures. In response to the storm, various contingency arrangements, including the provision of alternative equipment and some temporary service changes, were introduced. This has added to an already significant workload for staff as the system moves back to normal arrangements.  

The Minister said: “Having spent a lot of time recently visiting staff teams in hospitals and other health and social care facilities, it comes as no surprise to me that staff right across the system went above and beyond to ensure the safety of patients and service users, in hospitals and in the community.

“With detailed system-wide, local Trust planning and preparation ahead of the storm and a coordinated and focused approach, everything that could be done to maintain and quickly restore services was done with incredible dedication and an impressive level of partnership working.  

“It's heartwarming and inspiring to hear how staff and our partners in other agencies pulled out all the stops, particularly for those most vulnerable in our communities. While the advice for the public was to stay at home, staff in every part of Northern Ireland were out on the road ensuring that care was provided to those who need it most.  

“I'm very proud of our staff and I know I speak for everyone when I thank them for all they've done this past few days and for the outstanding job they do each and every day in very testing circumstances.

“I'm grateful to everyone for the part they played in getting the health and social care system and everyone who relied on us through this severe storm. I also want to thank patients and service users, and their families, for their understanding and support at such a difficult time.”

The Minister is keen to highlight some examples of efforts made by staff to ensure continuity of care and support as far as possible during and immediately after the storm:

• Estates teams and contractors worked tirelessly to clear fallen trees and debris and prioritise repairs to quickly restore vital services, and in many areas farmers helped clear roads for staff in the community. Estates staff in some areas visited the homes of vulnerable patients who had lost power supply, using mobile generators to reinflate air mattresses and recharge stair lifts. Showing great care and compassion for patients, estates staff also boiled kettles and filled hot water bottles to help keep people warm;
• Some nurses and other staff slept overnight in some hospitals and healthcare facilities to be on site for Friday morning and hospital pharmacists and technicians worked late on Thursday night in anticipation of a reduced workforce on Friday, and rearranged working hours to early so they could make it to work before the worst of the storm;
• Some community nurses were transported by their families and also had to drive additional miles to navigate road closures so they could access palliative patients;
• Some District Nursing teams made additional visits to patients on Thursday evening, ahead of the storm, to assess needs and, for example, replenish syringe drivers and other items;
• Many patients due to receive chemotherapy, radiotherapy and renal haemodialysis during the time of the storm were quickly rescheduled to weekend appointments with additional staffing and shifts changed;
• Community health teams were in frequent contact with vulnerable service users to provide guidance and reassurance;
• Most GP practices continued providing a service to patients, relying on mobile phones where power was lost in surgeries.
• Community pharmacies delivered exceptional levels of support to the communities they serve, playing a crucial role in maintaining supplies of medicines and providing professional advice and practical help to the benefit of patients and the wider HSC.
• During Storm Éowyn from the early hours of Thursday and across Friday, NIFRS Regional Control Centre received 261 emergency calls and fire crews were mobilised to 87 operational incidents including fallen trees and electric poles, collapsed buildings and property fires;
• Firefighters in Newtownstewart and Rathfriland supported Northern Ireland Ambulance Service by removing fallen trees so they could access emergency calls and bring patients to hospitals. In Maydown, Firefighters cleared access to Coolkerragh Power Station which provides critical infrastructure to the people of Northern Ireland;
• In Carrickfergus, Firefighters evacuated residents from the top floor of a care home following damage to its roof. In Ligoniel, Belfast, the Regional Control Centre provided life saving advice to two occupants who were trapped inside a caravan as a result of fallen power lines and were later rescued by Firefighters. Glengormley Fire Station also responded to a passer-by with a head injury believed to have been hit by flying debris.
• At Barn Court Children's Home, Carrickfergus, staff cared for young people when power was lost, with team coming in on their days off to help cover. The young people managed brilliantly and spent time with staff playing board games and heating up soup on a camp stove.
• On Friday evening, Kilkeel Coastguard was tasked at the request of the Southern Trust, as part of a civil contingency action plan in Tandragee. The Coastguard team brought specialist generator equipment to provide a power source for an elderly patient who was being supported by medical lifesaving equipment and had been without power, heating and food for 24 hours. Within an hour of initial tasking, the Coastguard team had a temporary power supply set up, then sourced food and hot drinks for the patient.

The Minister concluded: “These are just a few examples of the outstanding and in many cases very courageous efforts made by staff in health and social care staff, the Northern Ireland and Fire and Rescue Service and our partners in the community. This is lifesaving and vital work in the most challenging circumstances and I want everyone involved to know how much they are valued for all they do.”