Hospital waiting times in the Southern Trust area reveal that thousands of patients have being left waiting for treatment for more than 12 hours on the approach to the health system’s busiest time of year.
The statistics provided by the Information Analysis Directorate for July to September 2026 presents information on the time spent in emergency departments (ED) in Northern Ireland.
It reports on the performance against the Department of Health (DoH) Ministerial target, including additional information on a number of clinical quality indicators set by the DoH.
According to the most recent data set a total of 869 patients at Daisy Hill Hospital and 2,001 patients at Craigavon Area Hospital waited more than 12 hours in September, with performance deteriorating compared to the same period last year.
Newry and Armagh DUP MLA, Gareth Wilson has since expressed his concern following the updated information.
Commenting, Mr Wilson said: “These figures make for deeply concerning reading and will undoubtedly worry many patients and families across our area who rely on our emergency services when they are at their most vulnerable.
“Nearly 900 patients waited more than 12 hours in Daisy Hill’s Emergency Department in a single month, while more than 2,000 waited over 12 hours at Craigavon. Those are not figures anyone should be content with.
“Behind every statistic is a patient who may be in pain, distress or uncertainty, and staff who are working under immense pressure to provide care in increasingly challenging circumstances.
“My concern is that these figures come before the full impact of winter pressures is felt. Demand is already rising, and history tells us that emergency departments and hospital bed capacity face even greater strain during the winter months.
“Particularly concerning is the additional pressure being placed on hospital capacity across the Southern Trust arising from the ongoing suspension of maternity services at Daisy Hill Hospital. When services are centralised elsewhere, it inevitably creates knock-on demands throughout the wider hospital system and places further pressure on already stretched beds and resources.
“We need to see every possible effort made to improve patient flow, increase bed capacity where appropriate, support frontline staff and ensure that patients can access the care they need without enduring excessive waits. This winter will be a real test for the new Health Minister. It is vital that we see lessons learned from last year’s winter pressures, yet the early indications are not looking promising.
“Our healthcare workers continue to do an exceptional job under very difficult circumstances, but they cannot be expected to carry the burden of growing demand and system pressures alone. These figures should serve as a warning that urgent action is required before winter pressures deepen an already challenging situation.”
