Hailey Tran
As of 2015, there were 15 acute hospitals in Northern Ireland. However, the government plans to replace the current configuration with a network of nine acute hospitals, including the Royal Hospitals, Belfast City, Ulster, Antrim, Causeway, Altnagelvin, Daisy Hill, Craigavon, and the new South West Hospital. These acute hospitals will be supported by seven local hospitals, with additional local hospitals in other locations as needed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of acute hospitals | 15 |
| Names of acute hospitals | The Royal Hospitals, Belfast City, Ulster, Antrim, Causeway, Altnagelvin, Daisy Hill, Craigavon, and the new South West Hospital |
| Hospitals with fracture inpatient services | Antrim and Craigavon |
| Hospitals with protected elective capacity | Lagan Valley, South Tyrone, and the new South West Hospital |
| Hospitals with consultant-led maternity services | All nine acute hospitals |
| Hospitals with local designations | Whiteabbey, Mid Ulster, Lagan Valley, Downe, South Tyrone, and Omagh |
| Hospital activity statistics available | Inpatient admissions, outpatient activity, episodes within the hospital, and terminations of pregnancy |
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What You'll Learn
- Northern Ireland's acute hospitals will be reduced from 15 to 9
- Royal Hospitals, Belfast City, Ulster, Antrim, Causeway, Altnagelvin, etc
- Midwifery-led maternity units will be developed
- Fracture inpatient services at Antrim and Craigavon
- Protected elective capacity at Lagan Valley, South Tyrone, and more
Northern Ireland's acute hospitals will be reduced from 15 to 9
Northern Ireland's 15 acute hospitals will be reduced to nine as part of the Developing Better Services (DBS) initiative. The goal of DBS is to improve the health and well-being of Northern Ireland's residents by providing high-quality, accessible healthcare services delivered by well-trained and motivated staff in modern settings.
The nine acute hospitals that will remain are: the Royal Hospitals, Belfast City, Ulster, Antrim, Causeway, Altnagelvin, Daisy Hill, Craigavon, and the new South West Hospital. These hospitals will form a network supported by seven local hospitals, including Whiteabbey, Mid Ulster, Lagan Valley, Downe, South Tyrone, and Omagh. The Mater will also continue to offer a full range of acute services for an extended period.
Fracture inpatient services will be developed at Antrim and Craigavon, with fracture clinics available at all acute hospitals. Consultant-led maternity services will be provided at all nine acute hospitals, with the potential for developing midwife-led maternity units adjacent to consultant units.
The changes to the healthcare system in Northern Ireland are being implemented at local, sub-regional, and regional levels, impacting both where and how services are provided. These changes aim to enhance the overall patient experience and improve access to critical healthcare services across the region.
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Royal Hospitals, Belfast City, Ulster, Antrim, Causeway, Altnagelvin, etc
Northern Ireland has nine acute hospitals in its acute hospital network, and among them are the Royal Hospitals, Belfast City Hospital, Ulster Hospital, Antrim Area Hospital, Causeway Hospital, and Altnagelvin Area Hospital.
Royal Hospitals
The Royal Victoria Hospital is a teaching hospital in Belfast, and one of the oldest in Northern Ireland, having opened in 1876. It is one of the largest acute teaching hospitals in the UK and is closely affiliated with Queen's University Belfast. The Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children is another teaching hospital in the region, specialising in paediatric services.
Belfast City Hospital
Belfast City Hospital is a large teaching hospital located in North Belfast. It is one of the region's busiest hospitals and provides a wide range of acute and specialist services. The hospital has strong academic links with Queen's University Belfast and is a designated academic health science centre.
Ulster Hospital
The Ulster Hospital is a 500-bed hospital in Dundonald, designed by renowned modernist architect Frederick Gibberd. It was opened in 1962 and has since undergone redevelopment, including the addition of a renal unit, maternity unit, and critical care complex. The hospital has been granted University Teaching Hospital status by Queen's University Belfast.
Antrim Area Hospital
Antrim Area Hospital is one of Northern Ireland's busiest acute hospitals, located just outside Antrim town. It is the largest facility in the Northern Trust and offers a comprehensive range of acute services, including a 24/7 Emergency Department and advanced diagnostic capabilities.
Causeway Hospital
Causeway Hospital is a general hospital in the Northern Trust, located outside Coleraine. It provides a range of general and specialist services, including a 24/7 Emergency Department, inpatient care, outpatient services, and diagnostic facilities.
Altnagelvin Area Hospital
Altnagelvin Area Hospital is the main hospital for the North West of Northern Ireland, situated in Waterside, Derry. It was the first major hospital built in the UK after World War II and opened in 1960. The hospital provides acute services to Derry and the surrounding counties, as well as specialist services for neighbouring counties. It is a teaching hospital with links to Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University.
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Midwifery-led maternity units will be developed
In Northern Ireland, there are currently 15 acute hospitals, which will be replaced by a network of nine acute hospitals supported by seven local hospitals. Midwifery-led maternity units, also known as MLUs, are highly valued by the women who use them. The development of these units is part of a wider culture change in the Health and Social Care system in Northern Ireland, aiming to ensure that women have access to midwifery-led options.
The Guidelines and Audit Implementation Network (GAIN) is responsible for producing official clinical guidelines for use in Northern Ireland. In 2015, GAIN developed a detailed guideline document for midwife-led units, which involved a multidisciplinary group reviewing the evidence and building a consensus about which women should choose midwifery units for their birth. The group included practising midwives, lecturers, researchers, obstetricians, GPs, anaesthetists, and women and women's advocates.
The development of midwifery-led maternity units is an ongoing process. In 2022, the Department of Health withdrew the Guidelines and Audit Network (GAIN) Guidelines for Admission to Midwife-led Units (MLUs) on the recommendation of a coroner. In May 2023, the Department of Health commissioned a new report into midwifery services, 'Enabling Safe, Quality Midwifery Services, and Care in Northern Ireland', with the aim of developing recommendations for policy, practice, education, and research. This report was due to be completed in October 2023.
The Belfast Health & Social Care Trust offers midwife-led antenatal clinics at the Midwife-Led Unit in the Mater Hospital. Women who choose midwife-led care will be accommodated at the Active Birth Centre in the Maternity Hospital. The Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital in Belfast also has four midwifery-led rooms, known as the Active Birth Centre, and two rooms with pools. The Mater Hospital has a freestanding Midwifery Led Unit that has been closed to births since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The development of midwifery-led maternity units in Northern Ireland is a priority, with the potential for these units to be developed adjacent to consultant units in the network of nine acute hospitals. The aim is to offer all healthy women who aren't expecting complications the choice of an MLU, regardless of their location.
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Fracture inpatient services at Antrim and Craigavon
Northern Ireland's health service has been undergoing changes to improve the quality of care and patient access. The country currently has 15 acute hospitals, but the plan is to transition to a network of nine acute hospitals, including Antrim and Craigavon, supported by seven local hospitals.
Fracture inpatient services are being developed at Antrim and Craigavon, with fracture clinics at all acute hospitals. Antrim Area Hospital provides elective and emergency inpatient services, and Craigavon Area Hospital has a fracture clinic in Portadown. The Ulster Hospital Fracture Service is part of a regional Trauma and Orthopaedic Service.
The Craigavon Area Hospital fracture clinic receives positive feedback from patients. One patient reported a wait time of under two hours from entering the clinic to receiving treatment for their arm fracture. They praised the staff as friendly, caring, and helpful and appreciated the nurse's talkative nature, which helped distract them from the pain.
In addition to the development of fracture inpatient services at Antrim and Craigavon, consultant-led maternity services will be delivered at the nine acute hospitals, with the potential for adjacent midwife-led units.
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Protected elective capacity at Lagan Valley, South Tyrone, and more
Northern Ireland's health authorities are working towards improving the healthcare services provided to patients. As part of this initiative, the current configuration of 15 acute hospitals will be replaced by a network of nine acute hospitals and seven local hospitals. The nine acute hospitals will be the Royal Hospitals, Belfast City, Ulster, Antrim, Causeway, Altnagelvin, Daisy Hill, Craigavon, and the new South West Hospital.
The hospitals of Whiteabbey, Mid Ulster, Lagan Valley, Downe, South Tyrone, and Omagh have been designated as local hospitals. Notably, the Mater hospital will continue to deliver a full range of acute services for an extended period.
Lagan Valley Hospital, a local hospital in Lisburn, has been selected to trial prototype varicose vein surgeries. It has the necessary theatre availability, skills, and capacity to succeed as an elective care centre. Elective Care Centres offer enhanced patient outcomes, greater efficiency, more timely access to services, a predictable workload, and better surgical training.
Protected elective capacity will be developed at Lagan Valley, South Tyrone, the new South West Hospital, and elsewhere, as appropriate. This development will increase the availability and access to day surgery.
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Frequently asked questions
There are currently 15 acute hospitals in Northern Ireland.
There are plans to replace the current 15 acute hospitals with a network of 9 acute hospitals supported by 7 local hospitals.
The nine new acute hospitals will be the Royal Hospitals, Belfast City, Ulster, Antrim, Causeway, Altnagelvin, Daisy Hill, Craigavon and the new South West Hospital.
