Health Minister Robbie Butler sets out health reform vision as 36,800 extra patients receive care

Health Minister Robbie Butler

Wednesday 07 October 2026

Health Minister Robbie Butler has warned that waiting times across Northern Ireland remain too long and financial pressures are significant, despite reporting progress under efforts to reform health and social care.

Opening the NICON26 conference in Belfast today, Mr Butler said more than 36,800 additional patients received treatment, assessment or diagnostic services during the first quarter of 2026/27, while waiting lists across priority procedures have fallen by 25%.

The Minister used the conference, held under the theme ‘Reset for All | Action By All’, to set out his ambition for a system providing safe, timely and high-quality care while increasingly delivering services closer to people’s homes.

Everyone has a role to play

Mr Butler said reform could not be delivered by the health service alone and called for a wider societal approach.

“My ambition is a health and social care system that delivers safe, timely and high-quality care for the people of Northern Ireland. Reform cannot be achieved by any one organisation, profession or sector alone - everyone has a role to play.

“The HSC Reset Plan is driving meaningful change helping to improve access to care, expand community-based services, embrace digital innovation and make better use of our workforce. We must maintain this momentum.

“A crucial part of the vision for our communities to live healthier, more independent lives is through the Neighbourhood Model of Care, designed to bring services closer to people’s homes through prevention, early intervention and stronger partnership working.”

Progress reported under Reset Plan

DoH Permanent Secretary, Mike Farrar: Health Minister Robbie Butler and Professor Rafael Bengoa.

The Minister highlighted a series of developments which he said demonstrate progress through the reform programme.

• Northern Ireland’s regional thrombectomy service has become the first in the UK to operate fully 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• More than 36,800 additional patients received treatment, assessment or diagnostics during the first quarter of 2026/27.

• Waiting lists across priority procedures have fallen by 25%.

• The endoscopy backlog has been reduced by more than 28,000 patients since June 2022.

• More than £300 million in efficiencies and savings were delivered last year.

• Lagan Valley Regional Day Procedure Centre has delivered almost 26,000 procedures since opening and is the first centre of its kind on the island of Ireland to achieve Getting It Right First Time accreditation.

Waiting times remain a major challenge

Despite those improvements, Mr Butler acknowledged the scale of the problems still facing health and social care, including growing demand and continuing financial pressure.

“Waiting times remain too long, demand continues to grow and our financial challenges remain significant.

“Reform and sustainability must go hand in hand. Reform is not about structures; it is about making care work better for patients, earlier, closer to home and when they need it. Together we can make a real difference now and for future generations.”

The challenge for the Minister will now be turning the progress reported under the Reset Plan into sustained improvements patients can see and feel, particularly through shorter waits and greater access to care closer to home.