Emergency Departments in NI Facing Intense Strain
Conditions in emergency departments (EDs) have been described as “soul destroying” by a senior consultant after it was disclosed that one individual waited over 330 hours in an ED. Recent data from BBC News NI indicates that, during a seven-month span ending in January, a patient at Ulster Hospital remained for two weeks, while another patient spent 11 days at the Mater in Belfast. Dr. Clodagh Corrigan, who holds a senior role with the British Medical Association in Northern Ireland, emphasized that the situation for both staff and patients is “horrific.”
The Department of Health (DoH) responded, acknowledging that patients are facing waiting times that “fall well below the standard of care that we strive to provide.”
Long Waits for Patients Across Northern Ireland
The DoH sets a target for 95% of patients to be treated, discharged, or admitted within four hours, and for no one to wait longer than 12 hours. Dr. Corrigan, an emergency medicine consultant, has urged the department to allocate funds more efficiently. A Freedom of Information request revealed that every health trust in Northern Ireland has had patients waiting about a week or longer.
For instance, the Northern Health Trust reported that a delay exceeding 10 days for a patient at Antrim Area Hospital was due to the need for isolation for safety reasons. Dr. Corrigan noted that available space is often occupied by someone else, which leads to complications. She shared that patients experiencing issues like vomiting or diarrhea are left waiting for one restroom available in the unit. “It’s a soul-destroying work environment,” she stated, adding that the level of care provided falls short of both patient and professional standards.
Currently, there are hundreds of individuals in hospitals throughout Northern Ireland who are medically ready to be discharged. However, the lack of care packages or appropriate facilities prevents their release. The BMA indicated that this situation contributes to continued pressure in EDs as patients are unable to progress through the healthcare system.
Data obtained through a Freedom of Information request also highlighted that the months overlapping Christmas and New Year placed immense pressure on healthcare personnel, with one nursing leader calling conditions “intolerable.” Between December 12, 2024, and January 20, 2025, 140 patients had to endure lengthy waits, some exceeding 100 hours, in crowded EDs. Altnagelvin Area Hospital notably recorded the longest wait times, with 48 individuals waiting more than 100 hours.
Dr. Corrigan emphasized the need for increased investment in the health system and multi-year budgeting. “The funds available need to be utilized more effectively,” she remarked. “While new initiatives are often welcomed, the pressures do not seem to be alleviated by them.” She suggested that it may be wiser to improve existing services rather than continually introducing new ones.
The Department of Health expressed that Health Minister Mike Nesbitt is well aware of the challenges faced in emergency departments. They added that there is an understanding of the risks associated with extended waiting times and that efforts are being made to enhance patient flow through urgent and emergency care.
Yet even this week, significant delays persisted, with patients at Craigavon Area Hospital averaging a 15-hour wait to be seen on Monday.
