Hospitals under the management of South Eastern Trust in Northern Ireland are extremely busy amid a major incident following a horror bus crash in Carrowdore, County Down
Hospitals swamped with treating children injured in a horror bus crash this afternoon have asked other patients to only come in if they need emergency care.
South Eastern Trust’s resources in Northern Ireland are thought to be stretched after ambulances rushed patients to hospital, and paramedics treated others at the scene of the collision.
Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said 44 people, including the driver, were on board the vehicle when it is thought it struck a pole or a post and toppled down an embankment near Carrowdore, County Down. Emergency services rushed to the scene and some are still present.
Speaking as the rescue mission continues, a spokesperson for the South Eastern Trust said: “The South Eastern Trust is responding to a major incident involving a bus earlier this afternoon in Carrowdore, Newtownards. Our staff in the Emergency Department are preparing to treat anyone who needs our care.
“We would ask any patient not requiring emergency care to please use alternative services. If your condition is life-threatening, please visit the Emergency Department at the Ulster Hospital as normal.”
The trust manages five hospitals in the region, though it has not been confirmed to which the patients have been taken. The group includes Ards Community Hospital, which is only approximately seven miles away. However, the hospital, opened in 1841, is a small health facility.
Most of the patients in the crash are “walking wounded,” a witness said. They added they saw heroic children pull their friends from the damaged vehicle after the impact.
Speaking tonight, a spokesperson from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said: “Following a Road Traffic Incident this afternoon in the Carrowdore area, the Northern Ireland Ambulance declared a Major Incident, based on the number of resources required to attend the incident.
“Initial reports indicated that approximately 70 people were on board the bus. This figure has been revised to 43 and a driver. NIAS has assessed and treated patients at the scene, with four currently requiring further treatment at hospital. The remainder have either been, or are in the process of being assessed with a view to discharging at the scene. As this remains an ongoing incident, NIAS will provide further updates as appropriate.”
