Understand
Altnagelvin Hospital: No funding currently available for new emergency department, says minister
Overview
Northern Ireland's health minister has stated that while a new emergency department at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry remains a priority project estimated to cost £73m, there is currently no funding available for it. The hospital currently handles up to double the 40,000 patients a year it was designed for, leading to long waiting times.
Key points
- A new emergency department at Altnagelvin Hospital is estimated to cost around £73m and is a top priority for the Western Health and Social Care Trust.
- The existing emergency department is the oldest 24-hour facility in Northern Ireland, originally designed for 40,000 patients annually but now handling up to twice that number.
- Health Minister Robbie Butler stated that the case for the new department has been well made, but progress depends entirely on funding becoming available.
- Revised proposals for the project were submitted to the Department of Health by the trust in July 2025.
- The health minister and the Northern Ireland Executive are currently in a dispute with the Secretary of State regarding budget allocations and funding levels.