McGraths Says Health Winter Plan Is A Failure

McGrath says Health Minister’s winter preparedness plan has clearly failed

SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA has said the Health Minister’s Winter Preparedness Plan has clearly failed.

He was speaking during an Assembly debate on Wednesday.

South Down MLA Colin McGrath said: “Winter pressures were foreseeable and repeatedly warned about, yet patients are still left on trolleys, in corridors and waiting hours for ambulances.

“This points to a failure of planning, not an unavoidable crisis.

“Frontline staff are holding the system together despite being pushed to breaking point. Ambulance crews, nurses and doctors are experiencing burnout, denied overtime and left stuck outside hospitals for hours because of failures elsewhere in the system.

“Hospitals remain the central pressure point.

“Delayed discharges, under-resourced social care and workforce shortages are creating a log-jam that blocks emergency departments and leaves patients waiting at every stage of care, including those waiting for an ambulance.

“The Minister’s winter preparedness plan has failed in delivery. Without urgent action on workforce retention, fair pay for social care and safe staffing legislation, there is no confidence that next winter will be any different.

“Planning properly for 2026-27 should be the bare minimum.”