HSC NI Winter Update 2025

Winter pressures continue to put a strain on the entire Health and Social Care system across NI. To support public awareness a series of key health messages has been collated in our Winter Update ezine. To view follow this link Health and Social Care NI, Winter update.

Phone First

For information on how to access your local Phone First Services click here.

Urgent and Emergency Care

For the latest information on Emergency Departments attendances, delayed discharges and patients waiting to be admitted follow this link.

To view the average waiting times across all Emergency Departments, Minor Injury Units and Urgent Care Centres across Northern Ireland click here.

 

Review of Urgent and Emergency Care

Following a review of Urgent and Emergency Care across Northern Ireland in 2022, a number of priorities have been identified to transform and improve services so patients can receive the right care, from the right person, as quickly as possible.

The three priorities are:

1. Creating an Integrated Urgent and Emergency Care Service
2. Capacity, Co-ordination and Performance
3. Intermediate Care

1) Creating an integrated Urgent and Emergency Care Service

An Integrated Urgent and Emergency Care Service will include:

• Urgent Care services across Northern Ireland where patients with illnesses and injuries which are not life threatening but require urgent attention can be assessed and treated. Urgent Care services are one of the new ways that hospital and GP/primary care staff teams are working together to assess and treat patients, adults and children, who present with urgent illnesses and injuries. Patients can attend urgent care services via Phone First, GP referral or by walking in.
• A range of Rapid Access Clinics so patients can be seen by the right clinical specialist for assessments, tests and diagnosis; without having to go through an Emergency Department. Appointments can be booked by GP practices and through Phone First. These services enable GPs to make direct appointments so patients can be seen rapidly by the right specialist (Nurse, Consultant, Allied Health Professional) for assessments, tests, diagnosis. If required, patients will be provided ongoing support at hospital or community clinics.
• A regional Phone First service, providing clinical triage for patients who are considering travelling to an Emergency Department. Patients should still call 999 for emergencies, serious illnesses or injuries.

 

2) Regional Unscheduled Care (USC) Capacity, Co-ordination and Performance  

This workstream will:

• Identify changes required in Emergency Departments to improve care and patient outcomes in 2023.
• Improve processes and arrangements for ambulance arrival and handover zones in Emergency Departments in Royal Victoria, Ulster, Craigavon Area, Antrim and Altnagelvin Hospitals.
• support the timely transfer of patients who are ready for discharge, to the most appropriate setting.

 

3) Intermediate Care

Intermediate Care services provide temporary care to help you recover and increase your independence following a stay in hospital from illness or a fall

This will consider four areas:

• Hospital at home (acute care at home) – intensive hospital-level care provided to people at home, on a short term basis. This would be for acute conditions that would normally require care in a hospital bed.
• Bed-based intermediate care
• Home-based intermediate care
• Reablement – care and treatment to promote confidence and maximise independence so people can remain in their own home for as long as possible.

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