Understanding patterns of attendance and frequent attendance at emergency departments in Northern Ireland.

Summary

High and increasing demand for emergency care is a widely recognised issue within the UK, contributing to longer wait times, overcrowding, and pressure on health services. Northern Ireland’s (NI’s) emergency care system has been described as being in a ‘critical condition’ and ‘utterly horrifying’, with the worst performance since records began during the first quarter of 2026 (Royal College of Emergency Medicine, 2025; 2026). Despite this, there is limited population-level evidence about who attends emergency departments (EDs) in NI, why they attend, and the characteristics and patterns associated with frequent attendance.

In collaboration with the Public Health Agency, this PhD project will use a mixed methods design to develop a detailed population-level profile of ED attendance in NI. Using linked administrative healthcare data, the project will examine:

1. How many individuals present at NI EDs within a 12-month period?

2. What are the most common presentations?

3. What are the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of these individuals (e.g., sex, age, urban/rural location, area-level deprivation, proximity to ED/GP, comorbidities, prescribing history)?

Moreover, within the ED-attending population, frequent attenders (FAs) are commonly defined as individuals making 4+ ED visits within a year. Although they represent a relatively small proportion of ED users, FAs account for a disproportionate number of visits and may experience complex physical, social, and emotional needs (British Red Cross, 2021; Giannouchos et al., 2019).

Therefore, the project will also examine:

4. How do non-frequent ED attenders compare to FAs on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics?

5. Are there patterns of presentations associated with frequent attendance? Qualitative analysis will complement the administrative-data analysis by exploring lived experiences of frequent attendance and the factors contributing to high-intensity use.

Findings will provide evidence to support public health policy, service planning and commissioning, and help identify opportunities to strengthen referral pathways and community-based care in NI.Candidates would benefit from experience of quantitative data management and analysis.

The successful applicant would be required to undertake and pass Safe Researcher Training in order to access data in a Trusted Research Environment.

Please note: Applicants with a 2:1 degree in Psychology (or close to completion) are encouraged to apply

AccessNI clearance required

Please note, the successful candidate will be required to obtain AccessNI clearance prior to registration due to the nature of the project.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• A comprehensive and articulate personal statement demonstrating interest in the subject area
• Evidence of academic writing skills (a short sample of academic written work of the applicant's choosing (Max 3 pages, A4, font 11)) – please upload in the section entitled Research Proposal
• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• Applicants should hold, or expect to hold a First Class Honours Degree in a relevant subject area
• Work experience relevant to the proposed project
• A demonstrable interest in or experience of using Open Science methods

Equal Opportunities

The University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community, particularly from those with disabilities.

Appointment will be made on merit.

Funding and eligibility

This project is funded by:

• Department for the Economy (DfE)
• Vice Chancellor's Research Scholarship (VCRS)

PhD Scholarships are available for this project and will cover:

• Tuition fees.
• A maintenance allowance of approximately £22,000 (exact rate is to be confirmed) per annum for three years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.
• A Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) of approximately £900 per annum.

To be eligible for these scholarships applicants must: be a UK or Irish national; or have pre-settled or settled status; or have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

Applicants should also meet the residency criteria which requires that they have lived in the EEA, Switzerland, the UK or Gibraltar for at least the three years preceding the start date of the research degree programme i.e. September 2027.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year, or part-time equivalent, funded from any source, including self-financing students, are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Students in full-time employment are not eligible for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies.

Part-time PhD scholarships may be available at a 0.5 pro rata rate of the full-time scholarship, which would require a six-year registration period.

The University will award a successful candidate one of the following scholarships for the project, depending on the funding available at the time an admissions offer is made:

1. Department for the Economy (DfE) PhD Scholarships
2. Vice Chancellor’s Research Scholarships (VCRS)

Please note that the Terms and Conditions for scholarships are subject to change for 2027/28.