To ask the Minister of Health (i) to outline how increased visitor numbers to the north coast during summer months impacts on the demand for services at Causeway Hospital; and (ii) to detail any seasonal or yearly boost in funding or resources the hospital receives, in order to meet demand.

During the months of July and August, Emergency Department attendances at Causeway Hospital are 10% higher than the average across the year. The assumption is that this is due to the increased visitor numbers to the area during this period.

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust does not receive any additional seasonal funding to meet this demand, however seasonal fluctuations in demand are taken into account in the commissioning and planning of health and social care services.