Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly stated that slow health reforms in Northern Ireland are causing needless patient deaths. The East Antrim representative responded to a Royal College of Emergency Medicine report.

The report recorded more than 1,000 excess deaths in 2025 from extended waits in emergency departments. This number has doubled in the past five years.

Donnelly criticised the Health Minister's pace of change. He noted corridor care has become routine in hospitals.

The MLA called for coordination among emergency, community, and social care services. He said this would aid discharge of medically fit patients and expand hospital capacity.

Donnelly highlighted that last year saw nearly 20 such deaths weekly in emergency departments due to wait times.