Latest releases
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3,532 releases
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Patients and frontline services must be protected from health cuts – McGuigan
Sinn Féin health spokesperson Philip McGuigan MLA says patients and frontline staff must not bear the cost of British government underfunding, warning that savings demanded from health trusts could cut community and elective care. He calls for the Department of Health and trusts to publish the…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Health trust savings demands and funding pressures in Northern Ireland Original release: Patients and frontline services must be protected from health cuts – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Latest data shows urgent need to tackle the severe staffing shortages in healthcare – McGuigan
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan expresses concern over the latest HSC Active Recruitment and Quarterly Workforce Statistics, which show 2,005 nursing and midwifery posts under active recruitment. He calls on the new Health Minister to resolve the pay award dispute with the RCN and trade unions and…
Health Economy and employment Issue: Latest HSC Active Recruitment and Quarterly Workforce Statistics publication Original release: Latest data shows urgent need to tackle the severe staffing shortages in healthcare – McGuigan (opens in a new tab)
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Health savings won’t be allowed to come at expense of patient safety – Chambers
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA says patient safety must come first as Health Trusts consider savings proposals, warning financial targets cannot dictate safe care. He blames the Executive's failure to agree a Budget and calls for Westminster to recognise funding pressures.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Health Trust savings proposals and patient safety Original release: Health savings won’t be allowed to come at expense of patient safety – Chambers (opens in a new tab)
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Cullen calls for urgent action on Friedreich’s Ataxia drug and an all-island approach to healthcare
Sinn Féin MP Pat Cullen calls for urgent action so patients with Friedreich's Ataxia in the North can access Skyclarys, after the HSE approved its reimbursement in the South. She also urges an all-island approach to healthcare coordination and access to innovative treatments.
Health Disability and equality Issue: HSE approval of Skyclarys for Friedreich's Ataxia reimbursement Original release: Cullen calls for urgent action on Friedreich’s Ataxia drug and an all-island approach to healthcare (opens in a new tab)
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Milne welcomes progress on Safer Journeys to School Programme
Sinn Féin councillor Ian Milne welcomes Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins's plans to bring road safety legislation to the Executive protecting children at bus stops and on school journeys under the Safer Journeys to School Programme. He commends the minister and pays tribute to families who lost…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Infrastructure Minister plans school bus overtaking legislation Original release: Milne welcomes progress on Safer Journeys to School Programme (opens in a new tab)
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Allister Vindicated as UK Carbon Levy Hits Ferry Passengers
TUV MP Jim Allister KC says P&O Ferries' confirmation of a £10 surcharge on coach bookings between Cairnryan and Larne shows his earlier warnings about the UK carbon trading scheme extension to shipping were justified. He calls the costs unfair to Northern Ireland passengers and businesses and…
Environment and climate Infrastructure and transport Issue: P&O Ferries £10 coach surcharge linked to UK Emissions Trading Scheme Original release: Allister Vindicated as UK Carbon Levy Hits Ferry Passengers (opens in a new tab)
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Orchestrated campaign against Causeway Hospital continues
TUV leader Jim Allister, the North Antrim MP, accuses the Northern Trust of talking down to people who rely on Causeway Hospital and says it ignored a consultation where under 2% backed its plans. He also demands publication of staff response breakdowns and the data behind the proposal.
Health Issue: Causeway Hospital emergency surgery removal UUP leader comments Original release: Orchestrated campaign against Causeway Hospital continues (opens in a new tab)
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McNulty: Minister must make up for lost time on school bus safety legislation
SDLP Opposition Infrastructure Spokesperson Justin McNulty MLA warns that school bus safety laws must not run out of time before the Assembly mandate ends, after Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins said she plans legislation on overtaking halted buses in the autumn, pending Executive approval. He…
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Infrastructure Minister plans school bus overtaking legislation Original release: McNulty: Minister must make up for lost time on school bus safety legislation (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister Robbie Butler visits Bryson Charitable Group on first day in post
Health Minister Robbie Butler says he visited Bryson Charitable Group in Belfast on his first full day in post, hearing about its homecare work and anti-poverty efforts. He stresses the importance of community and voluntary sector partners to his Department's Neighbourhood Model of Care and says…
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Dodds: New Health Minister faces enormous challenges
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA says incoming Health Minister Robbie Butler has a heavy workload and urges him to act quickly on pay, morale, GP strain, cancer waiting times and the Muckamore report. She also asks whether he will continue Mike Nesbitt's approach or reset it.
Health Original release: Dodds: New Health Minister faces enormous challenges (opens in a new tab)
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Robbie Butler MLA appointed Minister of Health
UUP Leader Jon Burrows MLA says he has nominated Robbie Butler MLA to become Northern Ireland’s next Minister of Health, pledging full confidence and urging swift, patient‑focused reforms to improve access to care.
Health Issue: Robbie Butler appointed Health Minister after Mike Nesbitt resignation Original release: Robbie Butler MLA appointed Minister of Health (opens in a new tab)
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Butler cannot be yet another caretaker Health Minister, says McAllister
Alliance spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA congratulates Robbie Butler on becoming Health Minister after Mike Nesbitt's departure, but says he must not be a stopgap, urging him to prioritise health service reform and difficult decisions.
Health Issue: Robbie Butler appointed Health Minister after Mike Nesbitt resignation Original release: Butler cannot be yet another caretaker Health Minister, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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Carroll: Health service "fraying at the seams" while unionism turns in on itself
People Before Profit's Gerry Carroll says the UUP's turmoil over Mike Nesbitt's resignation reflects wider disarray in unionism while the health service is under strain. He criticises the Health Minister's reliance on for-profit healthcare and calls for a properly funded health service.
Health Issue: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt resignation Original release: Carroll: Health service "fraying at the seams" while unionism turns in on itself (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan convenes urgent meeting of Health committee
Sinn Féin health spokesperson and Health committee Chair Philip McGuigan is convening an urgent Health committee meeting after the resignation of Health Minister Mike Nesbitt. He says the committee will ask the Department of Health's Permanent Secretary to attend to understand the impact on health…
Health Issue: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt resignation Original release: McGuigan convenes urgent meeting of Health committee (opens in a new tab)
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Statement from Ulster Unionist Party Leader Jon Burrows
UUP leader Jon Burrows thanks Mike Nesbitt for his service as Health Minister after his resignation, says the party will nominate a successor soon, and calls for reform to be engaged with communities, citing concerns around Causeway.
Health Issue: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt resignation Original release: Statement from Ulster Unionist Party Leader Jon Burrows (opens in a new tab)
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Allister urges Minister to reject Trust proposals for Causeway Hospital
TUV leader Jim Allister, MP for North Antrim, has written to the health minister urging him to reject the Northern Trust's plan to move emergency general surgery from Causeway Hospital to Antrim Area Hospital. He calls for the Trust to publish the data behind its decision, citing claimed…
Health Issue: Causeway Hospital emergency surgery removal UUP leader comments Original release: Allister urges Minister to reject Trust proposals for Causeway Hospital (opens in a new tab)
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UUP cannot maintain fiction that there is a separation of party and policy on future of Causeway Hospital
North Antrim MP Jim Allister calls on UUP leader Jon Burrows to clarify whether his party backs his stated position on the future of Causeway Hospital, and whether Health Minister Mike Nesbitt is committed to the Causeway. He says the UUP cannot separate party and policy on the issue.
Health Issue: Causeway Hospital future and UUP party position Original release: UUP cannot maintain fiction that there is a separation of party and policy on future of Causeway Hospital (opens in a new tab)
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Sodium Valproate families deserve recognition, support and redress – Flynn
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn says families affected by sodium valproate deserve recognition, support and redress. She calls on the British Government to clarify its response to the Cumberlege Review and Hughes Report, and on the Northern Ireland Department of Health to gather data on those harmed.
Health Disability and equality Original release: Sodium Valproate families deserve recognition, support and redress – Flynn (opens in a new tab)
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New driver licensing changes will help make our roads safer – Ennis
Sinn Féin MLA Sinéad Ennis welcomes new driver licensing and testing reforms from 1 October 2026, which she says are the biggest change in over 70 years and aim to better prepare learners and newly qualified drivers for independent driving.
Infrastructure and transport Issue: Driver licensing and testing reforms from 1 October 2026 Original release: New driver licensing changes will help make our roads safer – Ennis (opens in a new tab)
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O'Toole: Resignation of Health Minister exposes "shambolic" Executive
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says the resignation of Health Minister Mike Nesbitt shows the Executive lacks a serious approach to government, and calls it an insult to healthcare workers and patients. He links it to the failure to agree a Budget and to internal party disputes.
Health Issue: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt resignation Original release: O'Toole: Resignation of Health Minister exposes "shambolic" Executive (opens in a new tab)