NEWS

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Gemma Peters, Chief Executive Macmillan Cancer Support. A major £2 million Cancer Charities Grant Scheme for 2025/26 has been launched by the Department of Health in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, marking a significant investment in community-based cancer services across Northern Ireland. The scheme has been co-designed alongside the Northern Ireland Cancer Charities Coalition (NICCC), introducing a new partnership funding model. H

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt pictured with staff at the Paediatric Unit at Altnagelvin Area Hospital. As winter pressures begin to intensify across Northern Ireland’s health service, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has issued a clear message to parents and carers: use the right service at the right time to help ensure children receive timely, appropriate care. During a visit to the Paediatric Unit at Altnagelvin Area Hospital, the Minister met staff and young patients to observe

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has hailed a major breakthrough in reducing Northern Ireland’s endoscopy waiting lists, which have fallen to their lowest point since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Describing the development as “a very positive milestone for patients and for our Health and Social Care Service” , Mr Nesbitt credited the progress to targeted investment, enhanced regional capacity, and increased flexibility under the Elective Care Framework. He added: “Through targ

As winter approaches, the Department of Health is urging the public to take simple, proactive steps to maintain their physical and mental wellbeing amid rising seasonal pressures on health and social care services. Speaking during National Self-Care Week, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt highlighted the importance of self-care and community support as temperatures fall and common winter illnesses begin to circulate. “Each of us can play our part in managing our own health and wel

Documentary participants and clinicians calling for political action to improve access to life-saving thrombectomy treatment. A Northern Ireland man’s powerful account of his father’s stroke has taken centre stage in a new documentary shown at Stormont, prompting renewed calls for political action to improve access to life-saving thrombectomy treatment. Over 40 healthcare professionals, politicians and stroke survivors from across Northern Ireland attended the screening of Th

L-R Health Minister Mike Nesbitt; Dr Eddie Gibson, Consultant Radiologist & Clinical Director;  Lynne McCartney, Director of Surgery and Clinical Services (Interim). Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has officially opened a new state-of-the-art MRI scanner unit at Causeway Hospital, marking a major milestone in diagnostic services for the North Coast. The investment will significantly increase imaging capacity across the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, enabling faster diagn

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) has sharply criticised decisions taken at the weekend’s Local Medical Committees (LMC) conference in Belfast, warning that recent moves by GP leaders risk undermining patient care and destabilising progress in Northern Ireland’s health service. The conference, held at the Merchant Hotel, has sparked significant political reaction after GPs voted to escalate industrial measures and explore the possibility of moving outside the NHS system. In a s

Amy Symington As the world marks World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) next week, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is shining a light on the very real and often devastating consequences of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). At the centre of this year’s message is the powerful experience of 21-year-old Portstewart woman Amy Symington , whose life was upended when a seemingly minor hip pain evolved into a life-threatening infection resistant to common antibiotics. For

Alliance MLA for North Antrim, Sian Mulholland, has welcomed the restoration of automatic entitlement to free NHS sight tests, dental treatment, and travel costs for eligible Universal Credit recipients in Northern Ireland. The change, which comes into effect on 1 December 2025, will benefit over 195,000 people, including thousands of families across North Antrim. Ms Mulholland , who has consistently campaigned for the reinstatement of automatic support, said: “From the momen

From L-R: Jacinta McAtamney (BSO NIPACS+ Senior Project Manager), Dr. Anton Collins (Consultant Radiologist and SRO of NIPACS+ Programme), Eddie Ritson (DHCNI Director of Digital Transformation & Innovation), Mike Nesbitt (Minister of Health), Joanne Allison (BSO NIPACS+ Programme Manager), Melissa Cochrane (BSO Head of Programme Delivery) Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has hailed the success of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) project transforming X-ray diagnostics across North

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has announced that the Northern Ireland Executive has approved his plan to restore pay parity for health service staff, bringing their pay levels back in line with colleagues across the UK. In a statement today, Mr Nesbitt said: “The Executive has today given me approval to deliver pay parity for health service staff, which was our original intention and what unions and professional bodies have been asking for and is their right.” The Minister con

More than 195,000 Universal Credit recipients in Northern Ireland will gain automatic entitlement to free NHS sight tests, dental treatment, and travel cost support from 1 December, following a key legislative update announced by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt. The move brings Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK, after years of disparity in how Universal Credit recipients accessed the Help with Health Costs (HwHC) scheme. The HwHC scheme supports people on low in

A total of £259,091 has been awarded to ten community and voluntary sector projects that provide vital support for victims of domestic and sexual abuse across Northern Ireland. The funding, jointly provided by the Departments of Justice and Health under the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Small Grant Scheme, will enable organisations to deliver trauma-informed counselling, crisis intervention, and specialist legal advice to victims and survivors. Announcing the funding, Justice Min

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt with staff at Kilrea Dental Surgery. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has paid tribute to the team at Kilrea Dental Surgery for their crucial role in improving access to Health Service dental care through the Dental Access Scheme (DAS). During a visit to the practice, which joined the scheme in 2024 and has since treated 3,817 patients, the Minister was joined by Chief Dental Officer Caroline Lappin to meet with practice owner Mr Charlie Kielt and his

CGI: Aerial overview of proposed new Birch Hill mental health facility at Antrim Area Hospital Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has been urged to come up with the finance needed for the new £143 million Birch Hill mental health facility at Bush Road in Antrim. The planned development has reached a standstill without confirmation of capital funding. The Northern Health and Social Care Trust had been due to receive the building for commissioning on 31 December 2029, which already r

Antrim Area Hospital Emergency Department The Department of Health (DoH) has published new Emergency Care Waiting Time Statistics for July to September 2025, showing that while overall attendances at emergency departments (EDs) in Northern Ireland increased slightly, long waits remain a significant challenge. According to the quarterly statistical bulletin, 203,230 people attended emergency departments across Northern Ireland during the three-month period — a 2.5% rise on the

North Antrim TUV MLA Timothy Gaston speaking in the Northern Ireland Assembly on Tuesday. North Antrim TUV MLA Timothy Gaston has called for urgent departmental funding to support a Ballymena-based crisis intervention charity, warning that the collapse of Extern’s community crisis intervention service in the north-west could soon be repeated elsewhere. Speaking during Assembly proceedings on Tuesday (October 14), Mr Gaston said the closure of Extern’s service “will leave a g

North Antrim MLA Paul Frew speaking in the Assembly earlier this week. North Antrim MLA Paul Frew has announced overwhelming public support for his proposed Individual Duty of Candour Bill, which seeks to strengthen transparency and accountability within Northern Ireland’s healthcare system. Speaking in the Northern Ireland Assembly on Tuesday, 14 October, Mr Frew confirmed that 94% of respondents to his 14-week public consultation backed the proposal. “I place on record my a

As Northern Ireland prepares for another challenging winter, the Department of Health has published its 2025–26 Winter Preparedness Plan, setting out a comprehensive strategy to protect vital health and social care services and support staff across the system. The plan, described as “an overarching framework for regional and local action,” identifies ten priority areas designed to maintain patient safety, improve hospital flow, and strengthen workforce resilience through the

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has hailed “real and meaningful change” across Northern Ireland’s health service, as new figures show major progress in cutting some of the longest waiting times for care under the Department of Health’s Reset Plan. Since April 2025, more than 100,000 red flag or time-critical patients have been seen, diagnosed, or treated across Health and Social Care Trusts (HSC), including through partnerships with the independent sector. The Department expect