NEWS

Catherine Sherry, a 42-year-old mother from Co Armagh, died after being forced to travel to London for treatment that was available around 60 miles away in Dublin Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is to write to the Health Ministers in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to seek progress on an all-Ireland provision of CAR T-cell therapy. The move follows a successful motion brought forward by Sinn Féin councillor Leanne Peacock at the council’s Corporate

(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

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

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

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): 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

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

(L-R): Mark Haynes, Consultant Urologist; Dr Raymond McKee, Divisional Medical Director; Sr Pamela Fitzpatrick. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has highlighted the growing role of Daisy Hill Hospital in helping reduce waiting lists across Northern Ireland, describing the site as an important contributor to the wider transformation of elective care delivery. During a visit to the hospital’s theatres, Elective Overnight Stay Centre (EOSC) and paediatric elective ward, the Minister

The Health Minister has urged the public to support timely discharge from hospital as part of wider efforts to protect Health and Social Care (HSC) services during the winter months, when seasonal illness places increased strain on already stretched services. During a visit to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt saw first-hand the level of pressure facing hospital staff as admissions rise over winter. The visit included the Belfast Trust’s Dis

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Professor Mark Tayor with SET Urology Team More than 70 men across Northern Ireland have now undergone pioneering robotic Aquablation surgery since May 2025, marking a significant milestone in the transformation of urology services and elective care reform. The South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (SEHSCT) is leading the regional rollout, with the technology already reducing waiting lists, improving outcomes and offering faster, safer a

Flu cases across Northern Ireland have almost doubled in the past week, prompting an urgent call from Health Minister Mike Nesbitt for eligible people to come forward for vaccination. Positive influenza cases have risen sharply to 954, with flu-related hospital admissions also nearly doubling to 264. During a visit to the Ulster Hospital vaccination clinic, the Minister warned that winter pressures on the health service are intensifying and stressed the importance of timely v

Professor Linda Kelly, NIPEC Chief Executive; Health Minister Mike Nesbitt; Professor Maria McIlgorm, Chief Nursing Office A new Career and Development Model designed to support professional growth and long-term workforce retention across Northern Ireland’s nursing and midwifery professions has been formally launched. The model, unveiled this week at the Northern Ireland Practice & Education Council for Nursing & Midwifery (NIPEC) annual conference, provides a clear and struc

Northern Ireland’s Health and Social Care (HSC) system has cut its spending on off-contract nurses, midwives and healthcare support workers by £120 million since May 2023, the Department of Health has confirmed. The reduction follows the introduction of the Nursing/Midwifery and Healthcare Support Framework, a procurement reform designed to curb high-cost agency spending and strengthen the long-term stability of the workforce. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said the framework h

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