The Health Minister says 911 fewer patients have been left on hospital trolleys this month compared to the same month last year. Up to the end of last month more than 80,000 patients had been left on a trolley this year. That’s an almost 8% increase on the same time in 2016. However Minister Simon Harris says the situation seems to be improving this year compared to last. He went on to say “there has been 911 fewer patients on hospital trolleys this month than the same period last year. I am encouraged by that but I am also very aware that we are coming into a very challenging winter period. I would echo my message to everybody to get the flu vaccine, it is really important people do prepare for the flu.”