Department of Health

Over a million people are eligible for this year’s free flu vaccine, as the Public Health Agency (PHA) launches the vaccination programme with a call for people to help protect themselves and others this winter.

‘Flu is far worse than a bad cold’ says PHA chief as vaccine programme commences

Twenty one per cent of children (4,460) in the Western Trust were known to social services as children in need at the end of March - the highest proportion in the North.

21% of children in WHSCT known to social services – highest rate in the North

Altnagelvin

Millions invested in WHSCT services to improve patient care and reduce waits

Altnagelvin ED

Series of improvements completed at Altnagelvin Emergency Department

The Mayor Councillor Grace Uí Niallais pictured with the new Healthier vending machine in the Foyle Arena. Picture Martin McKeown. 20.08.26

Derry council expands healthier vending machines

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 8th January 2022 -

Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

Derry MLA says 'tackling obesity calls for more carrot, less stick'

A 75 per cent vacancy rate for psychiatrists in the Western Trust has been described as ‘shocking’ by the chair of the Stormont Health Committee.

75% psychiatry vacancy rate in WHSCT

The old Stradreagh Hospital complex at the northern end of the Gransha Park estate.

DoH’s Gransha Park 'surplus' 231 acre land bank valued at £9.8m

Altnagelvin A&E

63% of £251m high-risk hospital maintenance backlog in Western Trust

Mr Martin Dalton, Mrs Phil Ryan and Sister Margaret, Sister Superior, Nazareth House, Fahan enjoying the fun at the official opening of Lisfannon Boardwalk. Photo Brendan Diver

New accessible boardwalk officially opened at Lisfannon

This photograph taken in Paris on February 1, 2023, shows snacks displayed in a vending machine on a commuter train's platform. (Photo by Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP) (Photo by EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images)

Council commits to making vending machines healthier

Over 40,000 patients waiting for a first consultant-led outpatient appointment in the Western Trust at the end of March had been waiting for over a year.

42,552 patients (52.1%) wait over a year for consultant-led appointment

Derry has higher rates of high blood pressure, asthma, cancer, COPD, dementia and mental ill health than the average for the North, new statistics have shown.

Derry has higher hypertension, asthma, cancer, COPD, dementia, mental ill health

Some of the attendance, in Guildhall Square, at a previous Caleb's Cause rally calling for legal protection for young people with Special Educational Needs who have disabilities in Northern Ireland beyond the age of 19. Photo: George Sweeney

'I am not afraid of dying, but I am afraid of dying first'

In Derry and the wider Western area, children living in urban areas were more likely to be registered as having autism at 5.4%, compared to 4.3% in rural areas, with similar situations across the other Trust areas.

1 in 20 schoolchildren autistic

A business case is due to be submitted imminently for a new regional endometriosis centre of excellence in the Western Trust.

Business case for new regional endometriosis centre of excellence
A business case is due to be submitted imminently for a new regional endometriosis centre of excellence in the Western Trust.
Kevin Mullan

Group pictured at a previous launch of Hive’s Movember campaign billboard at Free Derry Wall. Photo: George Sweeney

Hive among Cancer Charities Grant Scheme recipients

Pádraig Delargy

Summer schemes at special schools to go ahead following talks and U-turn

Day centres offer specialised support for people to maintain independence and social connection. In one of these spaces, social worker Sarah has built a relationship together with the person she is supporting, so Sarah can listen to and understand their individual needs. From here, she can gently signpost and put in place personalised care and activities. Sarah will also support families and carers, so they feel reassured about support provided. She will remain attentive to their wellbeing and responds promptly to any safeguarding concerns.

Social work photography exhibition to open in Derry

Councillor Aisling Hutton

‘Deeply concerning’ levels of vaping prompts council call for stricter controls

PACEMAKER BELFAST 11/01/2021
An ambulance arrives at the Emergency Department at South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen. Picture: Ronan McGrade/Pacemaker Press

Mortality down by 24% since suspension of emergency general surgery at SWAH

Altnagelvin A&E

New Altnagelvin A&E among ‘long, expensive list of capital projects’

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt. Picture: Pacemaker.

Report into Real Living Wage for social care workers

Almost half of the 4,756 patients who attended the Altnagelvin Emergency Department (ED) in Derry in December were triaged as needing care immediately or urgently, it’s been revealed.

4.7k attended Altnagelvin A&E with 46.4% triaged at most urgent level

Haemochromatosis patient Maolíosa McHugh has welcomed a new initiative offering free screening for people who may be living with the condition dubbed the ‘Celtic disease’.

Haemochromatosis patient Maolíosa McHugh hails new ‘Celtic disease’ screening

BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - SEPTEMBER 21: Mike Nesbitt. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

Health Minister urges public to use HSC‑approved apps to stay well this winter

(L-R): Dr Lisa Byers, Senior Principal Pharmaceutical & Controlled Drugs Accountable Officer, DoH; Katherine Kidd, CPNI; Michael Main; Dr Joy Watson, Belfast Trust.

Over-the-counter painkillers can be highly addictive
A man who was addicted to over-the-counter painkillers has spoken of the devastation it wrought and how he has turned his life around as the Department of Health warned people across the north of the dangers associated with some widely available medications.
Brendan McDaid

Dr Tom Black.

An article in praise of GP receptionists

Dr Tom Black.

Deprivation causes ill health and early death

Breast cancer referral waiting times for the Western Trust have not been included in the latest quarterly data published by the Department for Health.

Breast cancer referral statistics not yet available for period after new model

Tommy Canning from Northlands.

Addiction services the 'Cinderella of health service'

Female life expectancy in Derry and Strabane’s most deprived areas has declined for the second consecutive year, new data have shown.

Life expectancy for poorer Derry women falls for second consecutive year

Altnagelvin Hospital.

One in four waiting longer than 12 hours at Derry A&E

Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael McBride.

Chickenpox vaccination for children from 2026

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt attending Hive Cancer Support event on World Cancer Day at the City Hotel in February.

Derry cancer charity Hive offers support to women affected by ‘red flag’ delays

Dr Tom Black. Picture Darren Kidd / presseye.com.

The cross border scheme for operations

The Western Trust had the lowest proportion of available inpatients beds and the highest bed occupancy in the North last year.

Western Trust had lowest proportion of available inpatients beds

The Western Trust recorded the lowest percentage of live births in the North last year against a recent trend of decline generally.

WHSCT recorded lowest percentage of live births with trend of decline generally

The Western Trust received over 7,000 compliments as well, the report states. (File picture)

Complaint issues triple in Western Trust

Sinn Féin Foyle MLA Ciara Ferguson.

'Resolution needed to GP dispute'

Mike Nesbitt

DoH declines WHSCT pleas as demand for autism services far outstrips capacity

Altnagelvin A&E

12% drop in A&E attendances as impact of minor injuries unit tells

Marshall Blackthorn.

'We need the service. It's not a luxury item'

L-R: Professor Daniel Kerr, head of the School of Health Sciences at Ulster University (UU); Health Minister Mike Nesbitt; Chief AHP Officer Professor Michelle Tennyson; DoH Permanent Secretary Mike Farrar; Professor Carol Curran, Pro-Vice Chancellor & Executive Dean of UU Faculty of Life & Health Sciences.

Allied Health Professionals 'key' to rebuilding NHS

Foyle Hospice

Foyle Hospice staff prescribing medicine to patients in new ‘pathfinder’

No dental practices in Derry have signed up to a scheme to deliver urgent dental care to unregistered patients, it’s been revealed.

No dental practices in Derry signed up to emergency access scheme

Sinn Féin Foyle MLA Padraig Delargy.

‘10 hour waits in A&E nothing short of disgraceful’

Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy.

Delargy welcomes progress towards consultation on student nursing bursaries

Colum Eastwood

Eastwood calls for fulfilment of NDNA promise of £1m for Northlands

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt’s announcement of a series of initiative to cut waiting lists in the north.

Ferguson welcomes Nesbitt’s waiting list initiatives

Gerard Greene

April 2025 £1million month-end hit will cripple Community Pharmacy

Western Trust Orthopaedic ‘Prehabilitation’ Link to Wellbeing Programme which has received region recognition pictured back row from left to right: Eamonn Harrigan, Western Trust Link to Wellbeing Programme Coordinator; Bernie King, Programme, Participant and Nichola Cairns, Western Trust Lead Orthopaedic Nurse Manager. Front row from left to right: Sandra Dougherty, Margaret Sweeney and Noeleen Harding, Programme participants.

Knee replacement patient hails 'Link to Wellbeing’ pre-surgery initiative

New figures released by the Department of Health provide an insight into the areas of Derry with the highest per capita rates of attendance at Altnagelvin’s Emergency Department.

A&E by postcode: Derry areas with the highest Altnagelvin attendances

Foyle SDLP MP Colum Eastwood.

‘We will not stand for this’ - Derry's MP

Oonagh McClure, the Northern Ireland representative of campaign group the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL)

New law needed so medics are honest when treatment goes wrong in Northern Irelan...

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