More than 13,000 patients waited over 12 hours in Northern Ireland emergency departments during September

October 22, 2026 The Belfast Desk 0 Comments

More than 13,000 emergency department attendances in Northern Ireland involved waits exceeding 12 hours during September 2026, according to new figures published by the Department of Health.

Royal Victoria Hospital emergency department in Belfast, illustrating emergency department waiting times in Northern Ireland — The Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, home to one of Northern Ireland’s busiest emergency departments.
Photo: The Belfast Desk

The latest statistics reveal that 13,065 attendances involved waits of more than 12 hours, compared with 10,881 during September 2025.

The figures, published on Thursday 22 October, also show that emergency department attendances increased over the summer months, while performance against key waiting-time targets deteriorated.

Emergency department attendances increase

There were 217,038 attendances at emergency departments across Northern Ireland between July and September 2026.

This represents an increase of 13,708 attendances, or 6.7%, compared with the same period in 2025.

During September alone, emergency departments recorded 72,697 attendances, an increase of 7.5% compared with September last year.

The figures include attendances at major emergency departments and smaller urgent care facilities.

Fewer patients treated within four hours

The Department of Health reported that 42.3% of patients spent less than four hours in an emergency department during the three months to September.

This compares with 44.7% during the same quarter last year.

At Type 1 emergency departments, which provide consultant-led, 24-hour emergency care, only 30.7% of attendances during September lasted less than four hours.

The department’s draft ministerial target states that 95% of patients should be treated and discharged or admitted within four hours, with no patient waiting longer than 12 hours.

Hospital admission waits remain lengthy

Patients admitted to hospital from Type 1 emergency departments spent a median of 14 hours and 28 minutes in emergency care during September.

This was four minutes longer than the equivalent figure recorded in September 2025.

South West Acute Hospital recorded the longest median time between arrival and admission, at 20 hours and 16 minutes.

For patients discharged home rather than admitted, the median time spent in a Type 1 emergency department was five hours and 27 minutes, an increase of 38 minutes compared with September last year.

Thousands leave before treatment completed

The statistics also reveal that 5,756 emergency department attendances ended before treatment was complete during September.

This represented 8.1% of attendances covered by that measure, compared with 6.0% in September 2025.

Meanwhile, 53.5% of patients began treatment within two hours of triage, below the department’s target of 80%.

The Department of Health has advised that the figures should be interpreted with caution while the transition to the encompass electronic patient record system continues.

The statistics are currently designated as official statistics in development.

External link: Emergency Care Waiting Times Website.