Latest releases
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338 releases
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GP deal welcome but patients need an end to the 8.30am lottery - Dodds
DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA welcomes the newly agreed GP deal but says it leaves patients still struggling to book appointments, and calls on the Health Minister to set out how and when access will improve and address the funding and workforce gaps.
Health Issue: New GP contract announced by Department of Health Original release: GP deal welcome but patients need an end to the 8.30am lottery - Dodds (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance comment on announcement of new contract between GPs and Department of Health
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA welcomes the new GP contract but says the BMA's view that the offer is a drop in the ocean means it cannot cap ambition. She urges all parties to join Alliance's proposed multi-party framework for health and social care.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: New GP contract announced by Department of Health Original release: Alliance comment on announcement of new contract between GPs and Department of Health (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Butler: New GP contract will deliver better access for patients
Health Minister Robbie Butler welcomes the conclusion of GP contract negotiations with the NI General Practitioners Committee, including £17.384million for 2026/27 and an extra £40m over two years to improve patient access. He says NIGPC has committed to easier access and to the Neighbourhood…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: New GP contract announced by Department of Health Original release: Butler: New GP contract will deliver better access for patients (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Richard Boyd Barrett Calls on Taoiseach to Use Shared Ireland Funds to Save Services in Newry’s Daisy Hill Hospital
People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett calls on the Taoiseach to use the Shared Island fund to keep maternity and other services at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry, after maternity care was suspended and patients rerouted to Drogheda. Party representative Marc Mac Seáin pledges continued…
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital maternity services suspension Original release: Richard Boyd Barrett Calls on Taoiseach to Use Shared Ireland Funds to Save Services in Newry’s Daisy Hill Hospital (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Collapse of maternity services at Daisy Hill a result of failure to act with urgency, says Danny Donnelly MLA
Alliance Health Spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA says the temporary move of Daisy Hill inpatient maternity services to Craigavon Area Hospital from 23 November 2026 is a clear failure for women. He calls on the Health Minister to restore full services at Daisy Hill and to act on the Renfrew…
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital maternity services suspension Original release: Collapse of maternity services at Daisy Hill a result of failure to act with urgency, says Danny Donnelly MLA (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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DUP MLAs press Southern Trust over Daisy Hill maternity withdrawal
DUP MLAs Diane Dodds, Diane Forsythe and Gareth Wilson say it is regrettable the Southern Trust is moving inpatient maternity from Daisy Hill to Craigavon, citing long rural journeys and consultant shortages. They call for a clear timeline to restore Daisy Hill services and for the Health Minister…
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital maternity services suspension Original release: DUP MLAs press Southern Trust over Daisy Hill maternity withdrawal (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Pressure must stay on the Southern Trust and the Health Minister to save Daisy Hill maternity services – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP for Newry and Armagh Dáire Hughes calls on the Southern Trust, Health Minister and Department of Health to find solutions to the Daisy Hill maternity crisis after the Trust approved temporary relocation of services. He warns Craigavon will struggle and vows continued pressure to…
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital maternity services suspension Original release: Pressure must stay on the Southern Trust and the Health Minister to save Daisy Hill maternity services – Hughes (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 8 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Cllr Anna Henry welcomes £1.95 million investment in endometriosis services
TUV councillor Anna Henry welcomes the £1.95 million funding for endometriosis services across Northern Ireland, including £250,000 for the Northern Trust and a new Regional Endometriosis Pathway. She says more work is needed to cut waiting times and improve diagnosis.
Health Disability and equality Issue: £1.95 million investment in endometriosis services announced Original release: Cllr Anna Henry welcomes £1.95 million investment in endometriosis services (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Flynn welcomes investment in Endometriosis services and new surgical technology
Sinn Féin MLA Órlaithí Flynn welcomes a new gynaecological surgical robot in Belfast, used in 130 surgeries, and the £1.95 million for regional endometriosis centres. She calls for the investment to improve diagnosis and access, and says she has written to the Health Minister on an all-island…
Health Disability and equality Issue: Introduction of new gynaecological surgical robot in Belfast Original release: Flynn welcomes investment in Endometriosis services and new surgical technology (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Butler Announces £1.95m Investment in Endometriosis Services
Health Minister Robbie Butler announces £1.95 million for endometriosis care, with £700,000 for the regional centres in the Belfast and Western Trusts and £1.25 million across all five trusts to support a new regional pathway.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: £1.95 million investment in endometriosis services announced Original release: Butler Announces £1.95m Investment in Endometriosis Services (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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PBP Host Meeting on Daisy Hill
People Before Profit are holding a public meeting at Ballybot House to discuss the looming halt of maternity care at Daisy Hill Hospital, with parliamentary leader Richard Boyd Barrett TD leading a panel on using community and workplace organising to defend the service.
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital maternity services suspension Original release: PBP Host Meeting on Daisy Hill (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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PBP Support Daisy Hill Maternity March
People Before Profit's Newry and Armagh representative Marc Mac Seáin praises a large march against the suspension of maternity services at Daisy Hill Hospital. He warns the cut would burden families travelling to Craigavon and calls for accountability from the Southern Trust, the Department of…
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital maternity services suspension Original release: PBP Support Daisy Hill Maternity March (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Minister Butler thanks ambulance staff ahead of busy winter period
Health Minister Robbie Butler thanks Northern Ireland Ambulance Service staff after visiting its Belfast Integrated Clinical Hub, praising telephone and on-scene treatment models that cut demand on emergency departments before winter. The release cites 2025-26 figures of 44,064 incidents resolved…
Health Original release: Minister Butler thanks ambulance staff ahead of busy winter period (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Disparity for Derry. No New A&E at Altnagelvin.
People Before Profit Cllr Shaun Harkin says the Health Minister's decision not to build a new Altnagelvin Emergency Department shows regional disparity against Derry and the North West. He announces a Guildhall deputation on 26 October by UNISON, UNITE, NIPSA and the RCN on A&E pressures and cuts.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Health Minister decision against new Altnagelvin Emergency Department Original release: Disparity for Derry. No New A&E at Altnagelvin. (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 17 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Long issues ‘direct call’ to political leaders to agree Cross-Party Compact on health reform
Alliance Leader Naomi Long MLA urges the leaders of all Assembly parties to forge a joint agreement on health and social care transformation, warning that long waiting lists, missed cancer targets and chronic hospital corridor delays risk total system collapse.
Health Issue: Ten‑year anniversary of the Bengoa report Original release: Long issues ‘direct call’ to political leaders to agree Cross-Party Compact on health reform (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 15 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan welcomes delivery of 24/7 thrombectomy service
Sinn Féin's Philip McGuigan, North Antrim MLA and health spokesperson, welcomes the rollout of a round-the-clock thrombectomy stroke service across the North, saying patients are already benefiting. He pays tribute to specialist stroke teams and campaigners.
Health Issue: 24/7 thrombectomy stroke service introduction across Northern Ireland Original release: McGuigan welcomes delivery of 24/7 thrombectomy service (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 9 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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We Need An All-Island Health Configuration
People Before Profit's Marc Mac Seáin, Newry and Armagh representative, praises campaigners behind a Daisy Hill hospital public meeting and calls for an all-island health configuration, revoking the Bengoa Report, and a health minister committed to cross-border service planning, urging a mass…
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital maternity services suspension Original release: We Need An All-Island Health Configuration (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 6 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Trust, Minister and Department must find solutions to Daisy Hill Maternity crisis – Hughes
Sinn Féin MP for Newry and Armagh Dáire Hughes calls on the Southern Trust, the health department and the Health Minister to find workable fixes for the Daisy Hill maternity crisis, saying local expectant mothers are anxious and warning of patient safety risks over capacity and travel times.
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital maternity services crisis and possible relocation to Craigavon Original release: Trust, Minister and Department must find solutions to Daisy Hill Maternity crisis – Hughes (opens in a new tab)
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Minister needs to fulfil promise of transparency and communication:…
DUP MLA Diane Dodds says the Health Minister must deliver on promised transparency after he failed to answer questions at the Health Committee on the youngest puberty blocker recipient and the Maternity Hospital handover review. She claims bowel screening and thrombectomy announcements were hard…
Health Issue: Health Committee questioning of Health Minister on transparency and communication Original release: Minister needs to fulfil promise of transparency and communication:… (opens in a new tab)
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Maternity announcement demands answers from Health Minister
DUP representatives call for urgent clarity after the Southern Trust announced changes to maternity care at Daisy Hill, asking whether this is a wider reduction in services and whether the Health Minister will set out the clinical basis and duration.
Health Issue: Daisy Hill Hospital maternity services crisis and possible relocation to Craigavon Original release: Maternity announcement demands answers from Health Minister (opens in a new tab)