NEWS

Students heading into Freshers’ Week are being urged to look out for each other and know when to call for emergency help as universities welcome a new intake across Northern Ireland. Alcohol and drug charity ASCERT says the start of university life can bring new friendships, nights out and social events, but for some young people it may also be the first time they have consumed alcohol or faced pressure to drink more — or more quickly — than they normally would. The charity i

Fewer than one in three cancer patients in Northern Ireland began treatment within the recommended 62 days following an urgent GP referral in the first three months of 2026, newly corrected figures have revealed. The revised Department of Health data shows just 29.6% of patients started their first definitive cancer treatment within 62 days between January and March — against the official target of at least 95%. Macmillan Cancer Support described the figures as a “worrying pi

DfI contractors on site refreshing the road markings outside Ballymena Primary School on the busy Ballymoney Road North Antrim MLA Paul Frew has welcomed action to improve road safety outside Ballymena Primary School after he raised concerns with the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) on behalf of the school. Fresh yellow zig-zag markings have now been installed after the school’s principal highlighted faded road markings and malfunctioning flashing school safety signs. Whil

E-scooters seized by police in Antrim over the weekend. Seven e-scooters have been seized by police in Antrim as officers step up enforcement against their illegal use in public places — prompting a local MLA to issue a warning to parents ahead of Christmas. The PSNI said Antrim Neighbourhood Policing Team, supported by the District Support Team, Local Policing Team and Probationer Support Team, seized the seven machines during an operation in the town. Police said files will

An e-scooter seized by police in Ballymena on Friday morning. Police have seized an e-scooter in Ballymena and are preparing a file for the Public Prosecution Service after warning that the vehicles cannot legally be ridden on public roads or footpaths. The e-scooter was seized by Ballymena Police on Friday 4 September, with officers also intending to seek a Disposal Order. Police warn of risks to riders and public Police used the seizure to remind people that privately owned

The controversial proposal to move emergency general surgery from Causeway Hospital to Antrim is set to face a tougher ministerial test after Northern Ireland’s new Health Minister pledged to challenge the evidence behind major hospital changes and warned that reform cannot simply mean centralisation. Robbie Butler has also put proposed new hospital categories on hold and announced plans for an independent expert committee to scrutinise major or controversial changes to Healt

A “significant improvement” in lengthy ambulance handover delays at Antrim and Causeway hospitals has been highlighted by the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. Figures presented to a recent Trust board meeting show the number of patients waiting more than two hours to be handed over to hospital staff fell substantially compared with earlier in the year. Interim chief executive Suzanne Pullins acknowledged the “commitment and hard work of the emergency teams”. Two-hour wa

The Northern Trust has agreed £50 million of savings and confirmed it is now working to wind down Phone First — but says much of the detail showing what its wider financial plan will mean for patients and frontline staff is still being worked through. Love Ballymena put 12 detailed questions to the Northern Health and Social Care Trust after examining its 2026/27 Savings Plan, seeking clarity on a 23% reduction in winter planning funding, a targeted 25% reduction in enhanced

North Antrim MLA Paul Frew Failures to tell GPs that hospital referrals had been rejected affected 44,657 referrals in Northern Ireland, including 1,423 for suspected cancer and 16,366 classified as urgent, a ministerial letter has revealed. The figures were disclosed to North Antrim DUP MLA Paul Frew by former Health Minister Mike Nesbitt in correspondence dated 17 August, before his resignation. Mr Nesbitt said the referrals had been received and clinically assessed within

Councillor Tyler Hoey, Chairman of Mid &East Antrim Policing and Community Safety partnership is pictured with Elena Brewer, Training Officer at ASCERT; Sergeant Wickham-Thomas, Neighbourhood Policing Officer, PSNI; Christina Li, ASCERT and Colin Robinson, Training Services Manager at ASCERT. A new free training programme aimed at helping bar, restaurant, club and off-licence staff deal confidently with alcohol-related risks is being rolled out across Mid and East Antrim this

Changing facilities at Broughshane Community Centre Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has acknowledged that delays to the replacement of Broughshane Community Centre have contributed to the further deterioration of temporary changing facilities used by local football clubs. The Council is assessing whether “critical remedial works” are required to keep the existing facilities safe and functional, but has not confirmed what work will be undertaken or when it could begin. The

Antrim Area Hospital Monday 31 August 2026 The Northern Trust is preparing to reduce winter-pressure funding by 23%, target a 25% reduction in enhanced patient observation hours, move selected surgery between hospitals and seek the closure of Phone First as it attempts to make £50 million of savings this year. Millions more are being targeted through reductions in agency and locum spending, tighter controls on vacant posts, changes involving care-home costs and almost £600,00

A Carnlough mum who had already left for work when she heard a bang and decided to turn back has described the terrifying moments she discovered her home on fire — with her daughter and partner still asleep upstairs. Mandy Abram had walked down the path from her home at around 7.20am on Wednesday 26 August when she heard what she initially thought was a car backfiring. There was nobody around. Something, she says, told her to go back. Moments later, Mandy was inside desperate

Antrim Area Hospital The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has approved £50 million worth of savings as it attempts to balance its books by March 2027, amid warnings from trade unions about the potential impact on patients, services and an already stretched workforce. The savings plan was approved by Trust board members at a meeting at Antrim Area Hospital on Thursday (August 27), with members reminded that the organisation has a statutory duty to break even by the end of

Ulster Unionist Party Braid representative Samantha Patton Residents’ fears over speeding through Moorfields have prompted calls for increased police enforcement and an urgent review of road safety measures amid warnings that someone could be seriously injured or killed. Braid Ulster Unionist Councillor Alan Barr and party representative Sam Patton raised the issue after concerns were brought to them by a resident living on Kilgad Road. The resident reported vehicles travelli

Four of the UK’s farming unions are demanding an urgent halt to Brazilian meat imports into Great Britain, warning that the country could become a destination for products displaced from European markets when new antimicrobial rules take effect next week. The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU), NFU, NFU Scotland and NFU Cymru have jointly called on the UK Government to prohibit affected Brazilian products of animal origin from 3 September, bringing Great Britain into line with new E

The debate continues around the allocation of medical services between the Northern Trust’s Antrim Area Hospital and Causeway Hospital. Inset: Dr Eunice Minford, clinical director of surgery Clinical director tells Trust board safety cannot be guaranteed if service reaches a ‘point of collapse’ A leading consultant surgeon has warned that the Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s current emergency general surgery model is “fragile”, as she set out the case for consolidating

Superintendent Alistair Hagan urging festival-goers to prioritise their safety when attending outdoor music events Festival-goers heading to outdoor music events across Northern Ireland are being urged to plan their journey home, stay with friends and avoid illegal drugs as police intensify operations during the summer concert season. The Police Service of Northern Ireland says high-visibility patrols and stop-and-search activity will form part of its policing operation at ma

Families across Northern Ireland are being urged to check school travel arrangements now, with more than 60,000 pupils expected to use bus and rail services each day when school services return from Tuesday 1 September. Translink says the beginning of the new school year is one of the busiest periods on the public transport network and is advising pupils and parents to check timetables in advance, allow extra time during the first few weeks and make sure pupil Smartpasses are

Martin and Tara Cosser, founded of Charlie’s Promise, after their young son Charlie was murdered in 2023 after being stabbed while trying to protect a friend. Only one in five people in Northern Ireland are confident that young people would tell police if they knew someone locally was carrying a knife, new research has found — with anonymity appearing to make them considerably more willing to speak up. Polling commissioned by independent charity Crimestoppers found 20% of Nor