The County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust issued an urgent alert on February 17, 2026, stating that the emergency department at University Hospital of North Durham is currently extremely busy. This means residents in Durham, County Durham, may face significant delays and are encouraged to use local pharmacies or online health services for less serious medical needs.
Hospital officials recommend that people with minor injuries or illnesses use the NHS 111 online service to help keep the emergency department free for those with life-threatening conditions. Access to the University Hospital of North Durham is also currently affected by a 12-week project involving road and path repairs at the nearby Aykley Heads Business Park, which began on February 16, 2026.
The high demand at the hospital follows a recent visit from NHS England, where officials acknowledged the heavy pressure on local health teams. Operational strain has also been increased by the continued overnight closure of the treatment centre at Bishop Auckland Hospital, which is expected to remain shut during late hours into early 2026.
To help manage these challenges, the trust announced the appointment of Kelly Angus as the new deputy chief executive on February 17, 2026. The trust continues to ask the community to allow extra time for any necessary hospital visits and to consider all available care options before heading to the emergency department.
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