NI health minister pauses Phone First cuts amid winter pressure — SkimNews
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- Health minister instructed trusts not yet to stand down their Phone First service to pause any planned cessation, pending reassessment
- Northern Trust was set to end its Phone First line on 27 November but has paused withdrawal after being told to reassess, citing financial pressures of £53.8m in required savings
- Belfast Trust scrapped its Phone First service in September, estimating a £500,000 saving, despite concerns over rising call volumes and winter demand
- Department of Health confirmed trusts will liaise with external providers to extend Phone First where not yet discontinued, emphasizing support for emergency department access
- Suzanne Pullins, interim chief executive of the Northern Trust, stated the pause allows time for reassessment and stressed the service was 'very valued', though financial constraints forced difficult choices
- Phone First saw 18,263 calls in September 2026, with 12,098 (66%) referred to EDs, while committee chair Philip McGuigan highlighted it may have prevented over 6,000 unnecessary visits
- Southern Trust has no plans to withdraw Phone First, while the Western Trust is reviewing affordability and the South Eastern Trust confirmed its service remains unchanged
Why it matters: With emergency departments facing winter strain and trusts needing to cut £53.8m, the pause in scrapping Phone First reveals a tension between immediate cost savings and long-term patient flow. The service’s rising use—18,263 calls in one month—suggests its removal could shift, not reduce, frontline pressure.
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