Patients needing urgent care in the South Eastern Health Trust area over the July bank holiday will face changes, with one centre closing entirely and others requiring a phone call before attendance.

The Urgent Care Centre at Lagan Valley Hospital will be shut on the bank holiday, Monday 13 July 2026. It will reopen at 8am the following day, Tuesday 14 July.

At the Downe Hospital, the Urgent Care Centre will operate its usual hours, from 8am to 6pm, but patients must phone (028) 4483 8091 before attending. Callers will be assessed and offered an appointment at the centre or directed to a pharmacy, GP, or emergency department.

The Downe Hospital’s Minor Injuries Unit will open on Saturday 11 July and Sunday 12 July from 9am to 5pm, with the same phone-first requirement on (028) 4483 8091.

The Ulster Hospital’s Emergency Department remains open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, over the period. Its Urgent Care Centre will also open as normal from 8am to 6pm, and patients do not need to telephone beforehand.

Out-of-hours GP services are available for urgent medical problems when surgeries are closed. For the North Down and Ards area, contact (028) 9182 2344; for the Down and Lisburn area, call (028) 9260 2204.

The Trust advises anyone with an emergency to attend their nearest emergency department.