Latest releases
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2,485 releases
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Kearney calls for improved GP services in South Antrim
Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney says GP services across South Antrim are inconsistent and access is near impossible in some urban areas, calling on the Health Minister for considerable investment and targeted support. He links poor access to pressure on Antrim Area Hospital's emergency department.
Health Original release: Kearney calls for improved GP services in South Antrim (opens in a new tab)
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A full-time thrombectomy service will help stroke patients in North – McGuigan
Sinn Féin Health spokesperson and North Antrim MLA Philip McGuigan urges the Health Minister to introduce a 24/7 thrombectomy stroke service, noting it is still only available 8am to 5pm despite a 2022 Stroke Action Plan target of end-2024.
Health Issue: Assembly debate on 24/7 thrombectomy stroke service in the North Original release: A full-time thrombectomy service will help stroke patients in North – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: 24/7 cross-border Thrombectomy Service would save lives
SDLP MLA Colin McGrath calls on the Health Minister to explore a co-funded 24/7 cross-border thrombectomy service in Belfast and set a realistic timeline, after a 2024 deadline was missed.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Assembly debate on 24/7 thrombectomy stroke service in the North Original release: McGrath: 24/7 cross-border Thrombectomy Service would save lives (opens in a new tab)
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The Window of Opportunity for Minimum Unit Pricing Legislation Is Closing
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA says minimum unit pricing for alcohol is in jeopardy because DUP Executive ministers are blocking the proposal from reaching an Assembly debate. He cites the Health Minister's warning that he may have to explain to the Assembly why legislation before 6…
Health Issue: Health Minister Nesbitt's minimum unit pricing legislation Executive blockage Original release: The Window of Opportunity for Minimum Unit Pricing Legislation Is Closing (opens in a new tab)
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ADHD services must be improved – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn says ADHD services in the north are inadequate, with access depending on location, age and ability to pay privately. Ahead of a party motion, she calls on the Health Minister to work with trusts to set up a regional, uniform service.
Health Disability and equality Original release: ADHD services must be improved – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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Lyons launches Warm Healthy Homes Strategy for Northern Ireland
DUP's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons launches the Warm Healthy Homes Strategy 2026-2036 to tackle fuel poverty, saying it has Executive backing and will be paired with a £150million Warm Healthy Homes Fund next year.
Social security and welfare Housing Issue: Warm Healthy Homes Strategy 2026-2036 launch Original release: Lyons launches Warm Healthy Homes Strategy for Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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Allen welcomes additional disability adaptation funding
UUP MLA Andy Allen welcomes the £6.5 million allocated to the Department for Communities for disability home adaptations. He calls for better support and oversight so adaptations meet specification, and urges the Minister to create a dedicated fund for accessibility in public and community…
Disability and equality Housing Issue: £6.5 million Department for Communities disability adaptations funding Original release: Allen welcomes additional disability adaptation funding (opens in a new tab)
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Sentencing Review means stronger protections for animals and natural environment, says Blair
Alliance MLA John Blair welcomes the launch of a Sentencing Review by Justice Minister Naomi Long, which will examine animal welfare offences and environmental crime. He says stronger penalties are needed for those who harm animals or damage the environment, and cites pollution incidents in South…
Justice and policing Environment and climate Issue: Justice Minister's Sentencing Review on animal welfare and environmental crime Original release: Sentencing Review means stronger protections for animals and natural environment, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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Delays show health system still under severe strain - Dodds
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds says recent figures on ambulance handover delays and emergency department waits show Northern Ireland's health system is under intense pressure, citing handovers over 16 hours and median admitted-patient waits of 13 hours 36 minutes. She has requested further…
Health Issue: Latest Department of Health emergency care waiting time statistics Original release: Delays show health system still under severe strain - Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Slow progress cannot hide a broken system
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath says marginal gains in the latest emergency care waiting figures do not reflect conditions at the Ulster Hospital, where he claims patients face delays of up to 15 hours. He calls on the Health Minister to stop managing the message and take urgent…
Health Issue: Latest Department of Health emergency care waiting time statistics Original release: McGrath: Slow progress cannot hide a broken system (opens in a new tab)
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Lockhart: Stark Cancer Statistics Expose Unacceptable Delays
DUP MP Carla Lockhart warns that new Radiotherapy UK figures showing only 30.1% of Northern Ireland cancer patients treated on time expose chronic delays. She calls for free travel support for patients, ring-fenced Barnett consequentials for cancer care, and a response from the Health Minister.
Health Issue: Radiotherapy UK cancer treatment timeliness figures for Northern Ireland Original release: Lockhart: Stark Cancer Statistics Expose Unacceptable Delays (opens in a new tab)
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Allen urges sustained investment in NISEP to help tackle fuel poverty
UUP Communities Spokesperson and East Belfast MLA Andy Allen MBE welcomes recent additional investment in NISEP and calls on the Economy Minister to sustain it and align it with the wider fuel poverty strategy, including renewable biofuel options for rural areas.
Economy and employment Environment and climate Issue: Additional investment in Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP) Original release: Allen urges sustained investment in NISEP to help tackle fuel poverty (opens in a new tab)
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More coordinated storm preparedness response on Portaferry Road crucial, says Armstrong, ahead of Assembly debate
Alliance Strangford MLA Kellie Armstrong calls for a more coordinated storm response on the Portaferry Road and A20 ahead of her Stormont adjournment debate. She asks the Department for Infrastructure to set out closure procedures, inter-agency communication and signposting of an alternative…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Storm Bram impact on A20 Portaferry Road and Ards Peninsula Original release: More coordinated storm preparedness response on Portaferry Road crucial, says Armstrong, ahead of Assembly debate (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan: Executive Working Group on Suicide Prevention met only once in two years
SDLP Opposition Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA says the Executive is failing on suicide prevention after confirmation that its mental wellbeing working group has met just once in two years. He points to funding cuts to mental health and suicide prevention strategies, a 31% rise in…
Health Issue: Executive suicide prevention working group meeting frequency confirmed Original release: Durkan: Executive Working Group on Suicide Prevention met only once in two years (opens in a new tab)
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Minimum unit alcohol pricing would help to save lives and reduce harm – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan, chair of the Health Committee, welcomes the committee's decision to write to the Executive backing the Health Minister's minimum unit pricing legislation for alcohol. He argues it would reduce harm and urges all parties to progress the law this mandate.
Health Issue: Health Committee briefing on minimum unit pricing for alcohol Original release: Minimum unit alcohol pricing would help to save lives and reduce harm – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Hazzard welcomes progress on low-carbon heating support as ‘a vital step for affordability and climate action’
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard welcomes Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald's decision to proceed with designing a new low-carbon home heating support scheme. He says it offers clarity for families reliant on oil heating and calls for affordability, rural needs and fuel-poor households to stay central…
Environment and climate Economy and employment Issue: Department for the Economy low-carbon heating support scheme design next steps Original release: Hazzard welcomes progress on low-carbon heating support as ‘a vital step for affordability and climate action’ (opens in a new tab)
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Gynaecological and menopause waiting times ‘completely unacceptable’ – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn calls for action on gynaecology and menopause waiting times, citing a BBC report that almost 60,000 women are on gynaecology waiting lists in the north. She urges the Health Minister to work with his southern counterpart and says the forthcoming women's health action…
Health Disability and equality Issue: BBC report on almost 60,000 women on gynaecology waiting lists Original release: Gynaecological and menopause waiting times ‘completely unacceptable’ – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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Families continue to be failed by lack of respite provision, says McAllister
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says families are being failed by a lack of respite care after the Department of Health confirmed Lindsay House in the South Eastern Trust cannot reopen with no timeframe. She has tabled an urgent oral question for the Health Minister.
Health Disability and equality Issue: Lindsay House respite facility reopening delay confirmed Original release: Families continue to be failed by lack of respite provision, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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First Environmental Improvement Plan report shows progress, but political will is vital to save our environment, says Blair
Alliance Environment Spokesperson John Blair MLA says political will is vital to protect the environment after Andrew Muir released the first yearly update on the Environmental Improvement Plan, which Blair says shows progress.
Environment and climate Issue: Environmental Improvement Plan first annual progress report Original release: First Environmental Improvement Plan report shows progress, but political will is vital to save our environment, says Blair (opens in a new tab)
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More work remains to tackle ‘unacceptably long’ health waiting lists – McGuigan
Sinn Féin health spokesperson Philip McGuigan MLA welcomes the Department of Health exceeding the Executive's 70,000 elective care waiting list target, while saying waiting lists remain far too long. He calls for sustainable solutions, including workforce planning and expanding public sector…
Health Issue: Health Minister update on elective care waiting lists and capacity Original release: More work remains to tackle ‘unacceptably long’ health waiting lists – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)