A plan to reconfigure how surgeries are carried out in Northern Ireland will deliver safer and more consistent care for patients, the Health Minister has said.
Robin Swann was commenting as he published a review into general surgery provision in the region. The review, which was led by consultant surgeon Professor Mark Taylor, has produced a new set of standards that hospitals will be required to meet to continue to provide emergency and planned general surgeries.
The plan envisages greater separation of emergency and elective surgery provision, with different hospitals specialising in the different services. The exercise is part of the wider plan to reshape health delivery in Northern Ireland.
