Health: Drug dealing or use recorded across four health trusts

There are five regional health trusts in Northern Ireland: Belfast, Southern, South Eastern, Northern, and Western.

The South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust said it continued to record “very low levels of drug related activity across all our sites”.

It said it had a zero-tolerance approach, worked closely with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), and encouraged staff to report issues.

The Western Health and Social Care Trust said there were “very small numbers of drug related activity” at its hospital sites.

“Staff remain vigilant for any anti-social behaviour including drug-related activity on our hospital sites and we work closely with PSNI colleagues on such issues,” a spokesperson said.

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust told BBC News NI it had reported fewer than five incidents each year since 2020.

“We are not aware of any recent escalation in this type of activity at any of our trust sites,” a spokesperson said.

“Anti-social behaviour of any kind has no place in our hospitals or emergency departments where staff are doing all they can to provide care to those in need.

“We continue to work with the PSNI to address any matters that may arise.”

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust said while it was not aware of any recent increase in drug-related incidents, its porters remained vigilant for any unusual behaviour.