19 June 2025 

SDLP MLA and Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath has said the public deserves urgent assurances following reports that the roof of the newly built Emergency Department at the Ulster Hospital has failed following a leak which has resulted in patients being warned to stay away unless their issue is life-threatening.

Speaking following the incident, Mr McGrath said:

"It is absolutely shocking that the roof of a newly constructed Emergency department – opened less than 2 years ago – has failed to the point that patients have to be turned away. This is not a minor snag or a small teething issue. This is a fundamental failure in a critical piece of healthcare infrastructure.

“Staff and patients deserve better than this. Our health service is already stretched beyond capacity – the last thing it needs is for brand new facilities to be falling apart at the seams.

“Our hard working staff should be able to work in an environment that enables them to best perform the vital jobs they do, and this clearly impacts on the service and care they can provide.

“The parallels with the new maternity hospital in Belfast are hard to ignore. We are seeing serious problems emerge within new builds and water infrastructure, which raises wider concerns about quality assurance, oversight, and accountability in major health infrastructure projects.

“There must be immediate transparency to determine what has happened and why and I will be writing to the Health Minister to ask they he ensure that our health infrastructure – particularly when it is brand new - is fit for purpose.”