Health Minister says ‘Let’s work together to protect our Health Service this winter’
Health Minister Robbie Butler 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 Robbie Butler 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.”
The HSC bodies have published their Winter Surge plans on their individual websites.
For County Down:
- 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 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/
