Belfast City Hospital’s Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department will face termination on the first day of November.

The closure of the unit comes after the consideration of the safety measures. However, earlier it was supposed to be closed by the month’s end.

Belfast Health Trust Chief Executive Colm Donaghy announced in the board meeting that the closure was not due to financial problems but the current services provided at the unit were not appropriate and were dangerous for patients’ health.

The union members unwelcomed the announcement and stated that the authorities were making such a decision after their failure in sustaining the standards at the A&E unit. The decision was highly criticized and the union member ended the meeting by shouting the slogans like “shame on you”.

NIPSA union member Patrick Mulholland stated that the move will ensure the closure of the A&E unit finally and the services can never be revived back if once gone.

Around 42,000 patients were admitted to the unit last year, and it stays in demand throughout the year. The move will be a setback for many residents.

On the other hand, Mr. Donaghy stated that the decision was provisional and the trust will soon find an alternative. He added that the patients safety is the foremost priority of the medical authorities and their life cannot we put on risk.