THERE is a high demand of new referrals for neurology appointments and patients requiring reviews across the Western Trust, says Health Minister Jim Wells.
Sinn Fein’s Phil Flanagan, a Fermanagh-south Tyrone MLA, asked the health minister to outline how the Trust deals with the demand for access to a consultant neurologist at South West Acute Hospital.
In his response, Minister Wells said: “The Western Health and Social Trust has advised me that patient referrals to a consultant neurologist in the South West Acute Hospital are triaged by a consultant and prioritised for their clinic appointment. The waiting list is managed depending on triage category.
“There are two visiting consultant neurologists who attend clinics in the South West Acute Hospital. Regionally the neurologists are working closely with the Health and Social Care Board to review neurology services across all Trusts,” he explained.
The Western Trust has recruited one new consultant neurologist with the support of the local commissioner to address the demand capacity gap that exists.
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