NEWS

(L-R) Professor Mark Lawler, Professor of Digital Health at Queen’s University Belfast and Co-Lead of the eHealth Hub for Cancer; Margaret Grayson, Patient Advocate, Northern Ireland Cancer Research Consumer Forum (NICRCF); Minister of Health for Northern Ireland, Mike Nesbitt; Miriam Staunton, Chairperson, United Cancer Advocates Network Ireland (UCAN); and Professor Aedin Culhane, Professor of Cancer at University of Limerick and Programme Co-Lead of the eHealth Hub for Can

Nurse Bernie Rogers A nurse with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust has said she would “absolutely do it all over again” as she marks an extraordinary 50 years of service to the nursing profession. Bernie Rogers, from Maghera , began her career in January 1976 at the School of Nursing in Mid Ulster Hospital. Five decades on, and despite officially retiring, she continues to play a valued role within Team North, supporting colleagues and patients alike. A special event

North Antrim TUV MLA Timothy Gaston has raised profound concerns about the state of Northern Ireland’s health service, using a tragic local case to highlight what he described as systemic failures in ambulance response policy. Speaking in the Assembly on Tuesday, January 20, Mr Gaston said the Department of Health had become “by far the most frustrating Department” he had dealt with during his first 19 months as an MLA, accusing it of ignoring Assembly contributions, delayi

Antrim Area Hospital Emergency Department Five beds were placed adjacent to fire safety doors at Antrim Hospital as a “last resort” to ease pressure in the emergency department, the Northern Health and Social Care Trust board has been told. Speaking at a meeting of the Trust board at Antrim Hospital on Thursday (22 January), Gillian Traub, director of operations , said additional bed capacity had to be “created”. She explained that five in-patient spaces were identified, enab

Planning permission has been approved for the construction of a £3.5 million cancer support centre at Antrim Hospital, members of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust board have been told. Paddy Graffin, the Northern Trust’s Divisional Director of Infrastructure, informed members at a meeting held at Antrim Hospital on Thursday that permission has been granted by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council for the proposed new facility. The centre is being funded through a p

Norovirus cases across the UK have surged by more than 60% in the past fortnight, prompting renewed public health warnings from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), particularly as infections rise sharply among older adults and hospital outbreaks increase. The latest UKHSA weekly surveillance report for the 2025/26 season shows that norovirus laboratory reports between 5 and 18 January 2026 were 61.1% higher than the previous two-week period and 60% higher than the five-sea

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt at South West Acute Hospital (SWAH). Waiting times for hip and knee replacement surgery at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) have reduced significantly, according to the Department of Health, as part of wider efforts to expand elective capacity and improve patient access across Northern Ireland. The progress follows the introduction of a regional orthopaedic programme at SWAH, combining the use of independent sector capacity with improved theat

Organ Donation Specialist Nurse Jacqueline Heasley pictured with colleagues from Causeway Hospital’s Emergency Department, Niamh Mullan, Carmel Alexander (Deputy Clinical Sister) Caoimhe Larsen (Staff Nurse) and Kim Carson. The Northern Health and Social Care Trust is harnessing the power of storytelling to support children and families facing the loss of a loved one, with a new collection of bereavement books now available in hospital settings. A carefully selected range of

Northern Trust Health Visitor, Mary Donnelly, winner of the Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (SCPHN) Student Health Visitor Award, pictured with Alison Morton, Chief Executive of the Institute of Health Visiting. A newly qualified health visitor with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust has received national recognition after winning a prestigious UK-wide award from the Institute of Health Visiting (iHV). Mary Donnelly secured first place in the Specialist Commu

The UK medicines regulator has approved a higher maximum dose of the weight-loss drug Wegovy (semaglutide), allowing some patients with obesity to receive up to 7.2mg per week under medical supervision. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) confirmed on 6 January 2026 that the increased dose is authorised only for adult patients with obesity, defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30kg/m² or higher, and must be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet an

Northern Ireland’s Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has acknowledged continued pressure on cancer waiting times while insisting that early signs of improvement are already emerging following the introduction of a new regional breast assessment service. Newly published cancer waiting time statistics for July to September 2025 capture what the Minister described as “an early stage in the transition” to the regional model, the first quarter in which all five Health and Social Care (

(L-R): Current Northern Trust staff member Alison Irwin from Portstewart, and former colleague Yvonne Carson from Cloughmills. Two colleagues from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust have been recognised in The King’s New Year’s Honours List, with one current staff member and one retired colleague awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for their outstanding contributions to health and social care. Yvonne Carson , a current member of staff, and former colleague Alison Ir

(L-R): Health Minister Mike Nesbitt; Sandra McAllister, Consultant Plastic Surgeon and Regional Multidisciplinary Team Lead for Sarcoma; Professor Mark Taylor. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has welcomed leading figures from Northern Ireland’s sarcoma community to Stormont following their national recognition in Sarcoma UK’s 2025 Shining Star Awards, which celebrate excellence in care, advocacy and patient support across the UK. The meeting, held at Parliament Buildings, brough

(L-R) Jennifer Welsh, Chief Executive of Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Mrs Rachel Canning, Sister of Belfast City Hospital Day of Surgery, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Ms Katja Hartmann, Deputy Sister of Belfast City Hospital Day of Surgery. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has praised staff at the Day of Surgery Unit at Belfast City Hospital following the unit’s receipt of an Elective Care Recognition Award, recognising excellence in innovation, improved practice and

CGI showing proposed extension at Robinson Hospital The Northern Health and Social Care Trust board has been given an update on the proposed refurbishment of the Robinson Hospital on Newal Road, Ballymoney. Robinson Hospital, which opened in 1933, provides care for patients requiring rehabilitation, palliative care or further assessment following an acute hospital admission. A report presented to Trust board members at a recent meeting said the project will deliver a new-buil

Chickenpox vaccination is to be added to Northern Ireland’s childhood immunisation programme from January, offering thousands of children protection each year against an illness that, while often considered mild, can lead to serious and even life-threatening complications. The Public Health Agency (PHA) confirmed the move will mark the first time children in Northern Ireland can receive free protection against chickenpox through the routine childhood vaccination schedule. Hea

Aerial view of the Causeway Hospital site in Coleraine Plans to extend the car park at Causeway Hospital have been submitted to Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. The application, which was recently lodged via the council’s planning portal, seeks permission to extend the existing car parking area in a bid to alleviate ongoing parking pressures at the site. The proposals also include associated access and circulation works, new lighting, landscaping, and provision for f

L-R Suzanne Kennedy, Elizabeth Craig and Mandy Corr Members of the Causeway Hospital Partnership Board have praised the success of a community-based model of care that is delivering joined-up, neighbourhood services for people across the Causeway Coast and Glens area. At its latest meeting, the Board received an update on the work of the Causeway multidisciplinary team (MDT), a partnership initiative jointly run by the Northern Health and Social Care Trust and the Causeway GP

Health Minister and Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt Health Minister and Ulster Unionist Party leader Mike Nesbitt has described 2026 as a “highly consequential year” for Northern Ireland’s health and social care system, his party’s renewal, and the effectiveness of the Northern Ireland Executive. In his New Year message, Mr Nesbitt said the coming year would be critical in determining whether long-promised reforms in healthcare can finally be delivered, particularly

People across Northern Ireland are being encouraged to make use of the Health and Social Care (HSC) App Library this winter, with more than 1,000 endorsed health apps available to support physical and mental wellbeing. The appeal comes as winter places additional pressures on individuals, families and health services, with colder weather, shorter days and increased feelings of loneliness and stress affecting many people, particularly during the festive period. The HSC App Lib