Emergency departments come under severe pressure over bank holiday weekend

A number of emergency departments in Northern Ireland have experienced extreme pressure over the bank holiday weekend, turning to social media to warn potential patients of “extremely long waiting times”.

It comes as hospitals continue to operate under the strain of the covid pandemic.

On Sunday, more than 100 people were in Craigavon Hospital's emergency department at one point, with 45 waiting to be admitted.

In a social media post the Southern Trust said Covid-19 was “adding significantly to bed pressure” , with the situation “unlikely to improve soon”.

Meanwhile the South Eastern Trust warned its emergency department was under “extreme pressure”, urging the public to consider other treatment options if possible.

A similar plea was also issued by the Western Trust, which said the South West Acute Hospital’s ED was “very busy”, with 18 people waiting to be admitted.