“We will get through this winter and continue to be there for our patients 24/7. But let’s be clear – it will be incredibly tough, and I worry about the toll it will take.”
A&E doctors say they are ‘unconvinced’ Northern Ireland’s winter health plan will ease seasonal pressure.
The Royal College of Emergency Medicine was responding to the Northern Ireland’s Executive’s Winter Preparedness Plan 2025/26, which was released last week.
Tackling ambulance handover delays and vaccination programmes are among key elements of the winter preparedness plan for the health service. Reducing emergency department attendances and additional assistance for GP practices are also among Health Minister Mike Nesbitt’s blueprint for the traditionally demanding winter season.
READ MORE: Key elements of NI’s Winter health plan unveiledREAD MORE: Health Minister sets out plans to tackle ambulance handover delays
The Overarching Winter Preparedness Plan 2025/26 is aimed at taking a whole systems approach and ensuring the best use of resources. It focuses on five key themes: prevention, the role of pharmacy and general practice, hospital care, local planning and preparations, and whole system flow improvement for the elderly and frail.
RCEM’s Vice President for Northern Ireland, Dr Michael Perry, said: “We have been awaiting this plan, and we are pleased to see its publication as all signs are pointing towards yet another difficult winter for our members, their colleagues and our patients.
“As I’ve said previously, our Emergency Care system is in critical condition and winter is yet to hit. We have patients lining our corridors, on trolleys, or any available floor space, enduring extremely long waits. The plan represents a step in the right direction, with a focus on improving social care to allow patients to leave when they are well enough, along with care home provisions to keep some patients out of hospital.
“It also recognises the need to increase in-patient bed capacity within the mental health system, which we welcome, but lacks a clear plan. EDs, which are both brightly lit and busy, are often not the best place to support people with mental health concerns.”
He added: “No one working in Emergency Care wants to see ambulances stuck outside Emergency Departments. However, we have concerns about how the maximum two-hour ambulance handover will be achieved without exposing patients to risk and increasing overcrowding in our departments.
“Although the plan outlines some positive intentions, we remain unconvinced it will translate into meaningful action to reduce the dreadful waiting times we are seeing – which are dangerous. We will get through this winter and continue to be there for our patients 24/7. But let’s be clear – it will be incredibly tough, and I worry about the toll it will take.”
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