A 20-hour wait in the emergency department (ED) at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast is described as 'inhumane' by Vanessa Andrews, a 53-year-old mother and grandmother who uses a wheelchair. This experience, which she witnessed over the Christmas holidays, left her 'horrified and heartbroken' as she saw older people sitting on hard chairs, waiting to be treated. The ED pressures in the UK are a year-round crisis, not just a seasonal winter issue, with high demand and overcrowding persisting throughout the summer months. The target of 95% of patients being admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hours has not been met nationally since 2013-14. This crisis is fueled by an older and growing population with increased comorbidities, making it difficult for people to see their GP. The Belfast Trust has advised people to consider if they have a genuine emergency before visiting emergency departments and to use the phone first service on 028 9615 9444 where callers will be assessed by a healthcare professional.
