Poots: Major incident at Belfast hospital A&E was 'one-off'

Northern Ireland Health Minister Edwin Poots described Wednesday's major incident at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital as a "one-off" incident.

He said there had been an "unreasonable spike" in patients requiring treatment.

At one stage, 42 people were waiting on trolleys and staff described the situation as "horrendous".

Speaking at the opening of a children's home in Ballymena, Mr Poots praised the staff's response to the situation and added that Northern Ireland now has a safer health service than in previous years.