NEWS

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

Northern Trust dietetic colleagues Kathryn Duff, Shelley Hannon, Michelle Graham Steele, Ursula Quinn, Katherine Hudson and Elizabeth Armstrong received the ‘Community Nutrition Professional of the Year’ award at the 2025 Complete Nutrition (CN) Awards in recognition of their innovative work around community nutrition care. A team of dietitians from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust has been named ‘Community Nutrition Professional of the Year’ at the 2025 Complete Nut

DUP North Antrim MLA Paul Frew, and Councillor Reuben Glover at the junction of Dans Road and Galgorm Road DUP MLA Paul Frew has urged authorities to act swiftly to address what he describes as the “much higher than would be expected” number of road traffic accidents on a key stretch of the Galgorm Road in Ballymena. Mr Frew and Alderman Reuben Glover have been approached by numerous concerned residents regarding safety issues on the section between Cambridge Avenue and the D

Project Co-ordinator for Good Morning Ballymena, Debbie Chestnutt Good Morning Ballymena has been awarded the prestigious King’s Award for Voluntary Service — the highest honour given to volunteer groups across the United Kingdom — in recognition of its exceptional contribution to the wellbeing of older and vulnerable people in the local community. The organisation, which provides vital support, reassurance, and companionship to individuals across the Ballymena area, describe

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

PSNI Chief Inspector Siobhan Watt, PCSP Vice Chair Sharon Maxwell, PCSP Chair Councillor Lauren Gray, District Electoral Area Manager Ballymena and Lead for PCSP Jane Dunlop, and NIFRS Station Commander Johnston Birrell. (Image: Steven McAuley / McAuley Multimedia) Mid and East Antrim Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) is joining forces with the PSNI and Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) to encourage everyone to play their part in improving road

Pictured at the opening of the Infinity Room are Noah’s parents Corrina and Johnny McAleese, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Leona Laverty, Bereavement Co-Ordinator, Northern Trust. A new bereavement support space, created in memory of a Dunloy toddler who tragically lost his life in a farming accident, has officially opened at Causeway Hospital. The Infinity Room, named in honour of two-year-old Noah McAleese and his love of Toy Story, was opened this week by Noah’s parents

Back row: Damien McLaughlin (Charge Nurse Renal Unit), Dr Bob Mullan (Nephrologist), Stephen Watson (BBC presenter and ambassador for Northern Ireland Kidney Research Fund & Kidney Care UK) Front row: Audrey Harris (Northern Trust Director Medicine and Emergency Medicine), Louise Sloan (Specialist Nurse), Gerry Totten (ex-Charge Nurse), Niall Gallagher (Lead Nurse), Caroline Speedy (Assistant Director Medicine and Emergency Medicine) and Natalie McLaughlin (Clinical S

A County Antrim charity supporting children with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus has unveiled a groundbreaking all-terrain mobility wheelchair — the first of its kind in Northern Ireland. Love Hope & Faith has announced the arrival of the Quadrix Watts E3, a specialist mobility innovation designed to offer greater freedom and accessibility for children and families living with lifelong conditions. Thanks to £20,000 in funding from The National Lottery Community Fund Northern

Patients at Antrim Area Hospital are now benefiting from faster, more accurate diagnoses thanks to a state-of-the-art multifunctional gamma camera, one of only two in Northern Ireland. Installed last year, the scanner combines CT and nuclear imaging in a single device, enabling healthcare professionals to detect diseases at an earlier stage, tailor treatments to individual patients, and reduce the need for multiple scans. Marie Harvey, Lead Radiographer for Nuclear Medicine ,

(L-R) Robin Winsby, Translink Project Manager, John Thompson, Translink Head of Safety and Corporate Responsibility,  Michael Allen, Community Resuscitation Team Manager, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and Fearghal McKinney, Head of British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland.   Translink has announced a major life-saving initiative that will see Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) installed across its entire NI Railways train fleet by the end of December 2025. The mov

North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows and Constituency Manager Colin Crawford with members of Ballymena Squash Club North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows has given his backing to Ballymena Squash Club’s campaign to “Free Court 3” and secure the long-term future of squash in the town. Mr Burrows met with members of the recently formed club, which has grown rapidly since its launch in January 2024, now boasting a membership of 40 enthusiastic players. “I was delighted to meet with members of Ba

The Causeway Hospital, Coleraine The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has responded to concerns about the proposed closure of an 18-bed acute admission ward at Causeway Hospital in Coleraine. A statement was issued following issues raised by campaign group SOS Causeway Hospital during a recent meeting with Trust representatives regarding the future of the Ross Thomson Unit. Representatives from SOS Causeway Hospital met with Dr Petra Corr, Director of Mental Health and

Senior staff from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust pictured with representatives from SOS Causeway following a recent meeting where the group received an update from the Trust on the wide range of mental health services provided across the Causeway Coast and Glens area. Senior staff from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust have described recent discussions with community representatives from SOS Causeway as “productive” , following a meeting focused on mental h

Ulster Unionist MLA Jon Burrows has warned that families already struggling with the cost of living will be “hit hard” by the Education Authority’s decision to raise the price of school meals by around 20 per cent. The increase – equivalent to an extra 50p per meal – is due to take effect from January 2026, as part of a series of savings measures introduced by the Education Authority (EA) to tackle a £300 million funding shortfall. Mr Burrows, the Ulster Unionist Party’s Ed

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

Barkley Thompson Musical Director and members of the Farmers Choir who attended the awards evening.   Members of the Farmers’ Choir were delighted to attend the Northern Ireland Farming Awards 2025, where the group was recognisedo as a finalist in two prestigious categories – Farming Event of the Year and Farming Society of the Year. The choir received a Highly Commended accolade in the Farming Society of the Year category, acknowledging its exceptional contribution to rural

Women in Northern Ireland who have suffered multiple miscarriages face profound emotional distress, isolation and guilt, according to a new study led by Queen’s University Belfast. The research, published today in BMC Women’s Health, sheds light on the experiences of women across Northern Ireland who were treated for miscarriage, revealing how social stigma and a lack of adequate support leave many feeling devastated and alone. The study, led by Dr Áine Aventin, Senior Lectur

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

Daniel Hunter at work with Stena Line The journey towards a job you love is not always smooth sailing – but with the right direction and support, it’s possible to reach your destination. That’s exactly what happened for Daniel Hunter from Carrickfergus, who has proudly worked with Stena Line since 2022 after years of determination and perseverance. Daniel’s story began over a decade ago when he was first referred to the Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s Day Opportuniti