AQO 3061/22-27

Mr Colin McGrath
Social Democratic and Labour Party
South Down

Tabled Date: 29/01/2026
Answered On Date: 09/02/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health for his assessment of the success of the NHS 111 helpline service introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Answer:

Firstly, I must clarify that a regional telephone triage service, similar to the ‘NHS 111’ service which is in place in England, does not exist in Northern Ireland.

A review of Urgent and Emergency Care Services was published in October 2022 and identified the need for a new regional care model to address increasing pressures on Emergency Departments. One recommendation was the introduction of a regional, 24/7 telephone triage service under a single number. This service would aim to ensure patients access the right care, in the right place, first time, reducing unnecessary Emergency Department attendances and improving patient outcomes.

During the Covid-19 Pandemic and pending publication of the report, local “Phone First” services were introduced as an interim measure. While these services have delivered benefits, I recognise they are fragmented, operating under multiple numbers with limited hours and inconsistent integration across Trusts.

My Department plans to review the recommendation of introducing an HSC 111 telephone triage service, to reflect new digital opportunities and consider the relationship with existing services such as GP Out of Hours, Same Day Emergency Care, Urgent Care Centres and NIAS Hear and Treat. The intention is to establish a dedicated project team to take this work forward.

However, the timing of the work relies on available funding to establish a project team in the first instance and then associated funding to support any transition to a proposed model.