Hospital appointments hit by NI post strike

Hundreds of patients are missing hospital appointments because of unofficial strike action by postmen in Belfast.

Staff at the City Hospital confirmed serious disruption at the outpatient unit.

With no sign of an end to the stoppage, which has hit several areas of Belfast, the Royal Mail and the 300 striking postmen are under mounting pressure to agree terms for a return to work.

The strike is now in its second week.

Almost 45% of patients with outpatient appointments had been unable to keep them at the City Hospital, where there are more than 2,000 patient appointments every week.

The hospital’s clinical services manager Rosaleen Corvan also warned of a knock-on effect.

She said: “Missed appointments will require rescheduling within a system which is constantly working to maximum capacity to meeting waiting time targets.

“Staff have been required to work extra hours in an initiative aimed at contacting as many patients as possible by phone.

"However, given the large number of patients involved each week, this arrangement cannot be sustained and alternative means of communicating with patients will have to be found if the postal strike continues.”