Northern Ireland's major emergency departments recorded their worst waiting times for January to March 2026. Official data indicate 23.5% of attendances, averaging 12,309 patients monthly, exceeded 12 hours until discharge, admission or transfer. Just 30.5% met the four-hour target.

A total of 1,280 patients remained in departments over two and a half days across the quarter. In January, 449 patients awaiting admission stayed beyond three days. Median time to admission hit 16 hours, the highest quarterly level.

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine contacted the Northern Ireland Executive on Thursday. Dr Sara McGurk, RCEM Northern Ireland vice chair, said patients occupy corridors for days due to bed shortages. She stated overcrowding endangers patients and blocks routine care delivery.

Dr McGurk added that staff operate under heavy strain to sustain operations. She indicated solutions exist via faster hospital discharges to release beds.

An RCEM report attributed 1,032 excess deaths in the prior year to waits over 12 hours from emergency departments.

At Stormont, MLA Durkan questioned Health Minister Mike Nesbitt on a location-based analysis of those deaths. Durkan cited repeated concerns at Altnagelvin emergency department. Nesbitt responded he holds no such data but will investigate availability.