NEWS

Tuesday 06 October 2026 Stroke patients across Northern Ireland can now access potentially life-changing thrombectomy treatment 24 hours a day, seven days a week, removing the time of day or night as a barrier to the specialist procedure. The expanded regional service, based at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, began operating around the clock on 14 September and has already treated patients during the new overnight hours. Health Minister Robbie Butler confirmed the ser

Warren Smyth, Helen Lowry, Lowry Construction, Michael Bacon, Mountfern Adult Centre; Paul Davison, NI Water, Barbara Smyth and Henry Smyth pictured at the recent 50th anniversary celebrations for Mountfern where a new outdoor facility was officially unveiled. Monday 05 October 2026 A father who chose to give something back rather than receive a traditional retirement present has helped transform an outdoor space at Mountfern Adult Centre in Coleraine, as the service celebrat

Northern Trust dietitian Erin Turner Sunday 04 October 2026 People eligible for a free flu vaccine can attend walk-in clinics across the Northern Health and Social Care Trust area from Monday 5 October, including a weekly clinic at Braid Valley Hospital in Ballymena. The Trust is encouraging those eligible to take up the vaccine as winter approaches, warning that while flu is a common infection, it can spread easily and leave some people seriously unwell. Vaccination remains

Sunday 04 October 2026 Investment in Northern Ireland’s GP services has risen above inflation for the second consecutive year, reaching £435.1 million in 2025/26, according to new Department of Health figures. Total investment in general practice, including reimbursement for drugs dispensed directly by GP practices, increased by £22.887m from £412.168m in 2024/25 — a cash rise of 5.55%. After inflation is taken into account, the year-on-year increase was 2.04%. The £435.055m

Sunday 04 October 2026 A new RTÉ Investigates documentary will examine concerns over regulation of the fertility sector in Ireland, including whether the promotion of controversial treatments could give vulnerable patients false hope. The year-long investigation follows couples seeking publicly funded fertility treatment and women who say they have been left without the support they need, while examining the rapid growth of the private fertility industry. RTÉ says undercover

Friday 02 October 2026 Smokers across Northern Ireland are being encouraged to use Stoptober as their starting point to quit for good, with more than 500 free support services available through pharmacies, GP practices, health trusts and community settings. Evidence highlighted by the Public Health Agency (PHA) shows that people who stop smoking for 28 days are much more likely to quit permanently, while getting professional support can further improve the chances of success.

Claire Little before treatment for cancer Thursday 01 October 2026 Around seven in ten cancer patients in Northern Ireland waited longer than the 62-day treatment target following an urgent GP referral, with Health Minister Robbie Butler acknowledging that the overall position is “not acceptable”. Cancer Research UK says around 1,000 patients — 71.6% of those covered by the measure — waited beyond the target during April to June 2026, with every health trust missing the requi

Wednesday 30 September 2026 Staff in Causeway Hospital’s Emergency Department will begin using body-worn cameras tomorrow, 1 October, as the Northern Trust extends a scheme aimed at tackling violence and aggression towards frontline workers. The rollout follows a 12-week pilot at Antrim Area Hospital, where staff reported greater confidence in managing incidents and said the presence of cameras had helped change some patients’ behaviour. Antrim Emergency Department worker Eme

Wednesday 30 September 2026 People aged 59 in Northern Ireland will begin receiving invitations for bowel cancer screening from 2 November, as a phased expansion aims to detect more cancers before symptoms develop. Those aged 58 will join the programme from April 2027, with eligibility gradually widening until everyone aged 50 to 74 is included by 2031. The change will give younger adults access to screening currently offered every two years to people aged 60 to 74. Once full

Members of Antrim Area Hospital’s Obstetrics and Gynaecology team Tuesday 29 September 2026 Antrim Area Hospital has received UK-wide recognition for the training and support it gives doctors specialising in pregnancy, childbirth and women’s health, following feedback from resident doctors. The hospital’s Obstetrics and Gynaecology team was highly commended in the Overall and Obstetrics category for medium-sized hospitals in the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologis

Monday 28 September 2026 The Northern Health and Social Care Trust is developing four integrated neighbourhood teams in a major shift towards providing more care in people’s homes and reducing avoidable hospital admissions. The new Neighbourhood Model of Care will bring together primary care, community and social care services and the community and voluntary sector, with an initial focus on supporting older people as winter approaches. Trust leaders say earlier intervention c

Co Antrim woman Jackie Dawson (left), a patient who uses the unit at Antrim Area Hospital each week, pictured with Damien McLaughlin, nurse in charge, and Leanne Dawson. Sunday 27 September 2026 The renal unit at Antrim Area Hospital is delivering around 1,450 dialysis sessions every month, with health chiefs highlighting the significant pressures facing one of Northern Ireland’s busiest units. Members of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust board heard about the demands

Health Minister Robbie Butler Speaking at today’s Ulster Unionist Party conference Saturday 26 September 2026 Health Minister Robbie Butler has signalled that an expansion of Northern Ireland’s life-saving thrombectomy service is moving closer, telling the Ulster Unionist Party conference that the case for providing the specialist stroke treatment 24 hours a day, seven days a week “has been made”. Mr Butler, who took over the Department of Health just over five weeks ago, als

Dr Janet Gray MBE is a world class athlete and four-time winner of the World Disabled Water Ski Championships Saturday 26 September 2026 The chair of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s Organ Donation Committee has highlighted the need for more cornea donors to come forward. Dr Janet Gray MBE raised the issue at a meeting of the Northern Trust board at Antrim Area Hospital on Thursday, saying cornea donations remain “very low”. ‘Wonderful gift of sight’ Dr Gray, who i

Friday 25 September 2026 People facing lengthy waits for healthcare in Northern Ireland are set to receive more free community-based support after a £500,000 funding scheme was extended for another year. The Support While Waiting Grant Scheme will fund charities to provide practical assistance, emotional and mental health support, and help patients manage existing conditions while they remain on Health and Social Care waiting lists. £5,000 to £30,000 grants available Health M

Friday 25 September 2026 A major new study involving Emergency Departments in Northern Ireland has found that the risk of death was higher as overcrowding worsened — against a backdrop where the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) says 12-hour waits here have increased 43-fold since 2015 while attendances rose by just 6%. Researchers found that for every 10% increase in Emergency Department occupancy, the risk of death from any cause within 28 days was 1% higher. The r

Past participants Leah Baxter-Leslie, Nicki McNeill and Anjali Jose pictured with Naomi Hutchinson, NFSU Business Support Manager, Brigid McNabb, key trainer with Academy, and Dr Windsor Murdock, non-executive member NFSU. Thursday 24 September 2026 A programme designed to help local people into work while tackling recruitment needs in GP surgeries has recorded a 53% employment outcome after expanding from a Mid and East Antrim pilot to four academies in just 18 months. From

Emmerdale stars, Lisa Riley (left) and Dominic Brunt (right) present Johnny and Corrina McAleese, Founders of Noah’s Story, with their Overcoming Adversity Award. Also pictured is Duvessa Cochrane (right) from category sponsor, A Aesthetics. Wednesday 23 September 2026 Johnny and Corrina McAleese, the north Antrim couple who turned the devastating loss of their young son into a mission to help other bereaved families, have been honoured at the Spirit of Northern Ireland Award

(L-R) RCGPNI Chair Dr Ursula Mason, Northern Ireland Health Minister Robbie Butler, and Dr Emma Murtagh (Vice Chair Policy, RCGPNI) Tuesday 22 September 2026 Northern Ireland’s GP service is at a “critical juncture”, with the number of practices falling by almost 13% since 2014 while the registered patient population has risen to 2.07 million, a major new policy paper has warned. The Royal College of General Practitioners Northern Ireland (RCGPNI) says the combination of risi

Wednesday 16 September 2026 Northern Ireland has just 154 registered dental hygienists — around half the number per head of population recorded in England — as North Antrim MP Jim Allister calls for urgent action to expand training and make greater use of hygienists within Health Service dentistry. The TUV leader has challenged Health Minister Robbie Butler after being contacted by dental professionals concerned that there is no dental hygiene training course available in Nor