Health Minister has urged the public to work
with the Health Service to protect vital services this winter.
Ahead of the busy winter period, the six HSC Trusts and Public
Health Agency (PHA) have published their Winter Surge plans. The
plans set out how the Health and Social Care (HSC) will respond
to the additional challenges winter presents.
Health Minister said: The HSC system faces
pressure 365 days a year, but we know that winter is a
particularly challenging time for our staff and services. The
Trust plans aim to ensure that our system has the appropriate
measures in place to deal with this additional demand. My focus
is to ensure that services remain safe, resilient and responsive,
while protecting both patients and staff.
This year's approach is grounded in whole system preparedness and
co-ordination, prevention and managing demand. There will also be
a focus on a whole hospital approach to supporting Emergency
Departments to ensure optimal patient flow and access to the
right care in the right place at the right time and from the
right clinician to meet the patient needs.
This year, stronger Departmental oversight is planned, with a
Surge Oversight Programme Board being established. This will
provide a framework for oversight of delivery, information
sharing and communication.
The Minister also appealed to the public to do their part. He
said: We must all work together to protect our Health Service
this winter. You can do small, simple steps, such as getting your
vaccination if eligible, engaging proactively with hospital
discharge processes if you or a family member are well enough to
leave hospital and taking steps to stay well.
Where you do need healthcare, I would encourage you to seek
support early and from the most appropriate place to meet your
need. This may not require a hospital setting, but be available
within your own community, from GPs and community pharmacists.
I would also appeal to the public to please be patient and
respectful with our staff as they deal with the increased demand
and strive to treat the sickest quickest.
Notes to editors:
- The HSC Trusts have published their Winter Surge plans on
their individual websites. Belfast:
https://belfasttrust.hscni.net/wpfd_file/bhsct-detailed-winter-surge-plan-2026-27/,
South Eastern:https://setrust.hscni.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SEHSCT-Winter-Surge-Plan_public-document_18.09.26-FINAL.pdf, Southern:
https://southerntrust.hscni.net/wpfd_file/shsct-winter-plan-2026-27, Northern:
https://www.northerntrust.hscni.net/our-trust/corporate-plans/northern-health-and-social-care-trust-winter-plan-2026-2027/, Western:
https://westerntrust.hscni.net/winter-plan-2026-27/, Northern
Ireland Ambulance Service: https://nias.hscni.net/nias-launches-winter-plan-for-2026-27/, Public
Health Agency: https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/publications/draft-pha-winter-surge-plan-202627, Department
of Health's Strategic Planning and Performance Group:
https://online.hscni.net/winter-surge-planning-2026-27/
