To ask the Minister of Health, in relation to the overcrowding in the Emergency Departments in Altnagelvin Area Hospital and the South West Acute Hospital on 14 September 2026, as highlighted in a social media post by the Western Health and Social Care Trust, to detail any steps being taken to address this and to prevent it from happening again.

My Department recognises the potential risks to patients associated with prolonged waits in emergency departments (EDs) and continues to work with Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts to improve patient flow across urgent and emergency care services. These risks were highlighted in the ‘Getting It Right First Time’ (GIRFT) Review of Emergency Medicine in Northern Ireland commissioned by my Department in 2023.

In response to ongoing pressures, all HSC Trusts have published their 2026-27 Winter Plans on their respective webpages. These plans set out the measures being implemented to manage the anticipated increase in demand, particularly within EDs, and include actions to improve patient flow, maintain patient safety and support delivery of services during the winter period.