Craigavon Area Hospital's Emergency Department has reported reduced waiting times for walk-in patients following the introduction of a dedicated assessment area in May 2026.

The Extended Emergency Medicine Ambulatory Care (EEMAC) area was developed as part of the Southern Trust's response to the regional Release to Rescue initiative. It repurposed the department's Red Area to create space for patients who do not require a bed while awaiting assessment and treatment.

Since opening, EEMAC has operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and now cares for around 75 patients each day. The average time from arrival to being seen by a clinician for walk-in patients dropped from approximately 300 minutes in May to about 200 minutes in September. The number of patients waiting more than 12 hours has also decreased.

Dr Paul McGarry, Clinical Lead for Emergency Medicine, said that attending the Emergency Department can be stressful, particularly with long waits, and that staff understand the frustration this causes. He explained that EEMAC was introduced after staff identified the need for a dedicated area for patients who do not require a bed. He said the area has helped reduce waiting times and contributed to fewer very long waits, reflecting the commitment of nursing, medical and support teams. He added that while there is more work to do, the positive difference is encouraging.

Mark McCrudden, Director of Medicine and Unscheduled Care, said that EEMAC is an example of staff identifying a challenge and developing a practical solution. He said the new area is helping patients move through the department more quickly and supporting wider efforts to reduce delays. He acknowledged that waiting times remain too long for some patients and that the impact on patients, families and staff is not underestimated. He said the trust will continue to build on these improvements as winter approaches.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust covers the Craigavon area and surrounding region in Northern Ireland.