Health Minister commends Belfast City Hospital Day of Surgery Unit after Elective Care Award

(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 patient-centred care.

The October 2025 award was presented by the Elective Care Management Team (ECMT) and highlights examples of best practice across the Health and Social Care system, aiming to encourage continued improvement in the delivery of elective care.

During a visit to the unit, the Minister met staff and patients, observed the patient journey from admission through to theatre, and heard about initiatives designed to improve communication, patient flow and overall experience.

The visit also focused on how the service is supporting elective care delivery and helping to reduce waiting lists within Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

Speaking during the visit, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said:

“I am delighted to visit the Day of Surgery Unit at Belfast City Hospital and to personally thank staff for their exceptional work.

“The compassionate, patient-centred care provided by this team is evident. Staff work collaboratively, go above and beyond to reduce pre-operative delays and waiting times, and consistently uphold high professional standards. The excellent patient feedback for the unit is a testament to the quality of care being delivered.

“The outcomes achieved here including faster access to surgery, increased capacity and more efficient use of hospital beds are to be warmly commended.”

The Day of Surgery Unit supports a wide range of surgical specialties and allows patients to be admitted on the day of their procedure, reducing length of hospital stay and improving the overall patient experience.

Over the past three years, activity at the unit has steadily increased, with more than 4,000 patients admitted annually, helping to free up inpatient beds for higher-acuity care.

Mr Nesbitt said progress at the unit reflects broader efforts to tackle waiting lists across Northern Ireland.

He added:

“Reducing waiting lists remains one of my central priorities as Health Minister. We are seeing very real progress across Northern Ireland, with targeted efforts helping to reduce some of our longest waits and bring more patients the care they need more quickly. Through the Elective Care Framework and our Reset Plan for waiting lists, we are treating significant numbers of time-critical patients and reducing the longest waiting times, while also increasing planned surgical capacity across the system.

“This work reflects the commitment and professionalism of staff across the health service, and units like this one show what can be achieved when great teams are supported to innovate and deliver for patients.

“There is still much work to do, but the progress being made at Belfast City Hospital and across the region shows that improvement is possible. We will continue to build on this momentum to deliver faster, safer and more sustainable care for all.”

Jennifer Welsh, Chief Executive of Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, said the award highlighted the strength of leadership and teamwork within the unit.

She said:

“The Day of Surgery Unit is an excellent example of best practice in elective surgery delivery. Under the leadership of Sister Rachel Canning, the team shows how strong clinical leadership and teamwork can drive high standards of care across multiple surgical specialties.”

The Elective Care Recognition Award shines a spotlight on teams delivering measurable improvements for patients, with the Belfast City Hospital Day of Surgery Unit now recognised as a leading example of how innovation and collaboration can enhance care and support the wider health system.