Latest releases
Searching a long passage? Find similar statements.
- Environment and climate: remove filter
- Other: remove filter
- Health: remove filter
- Policy announcement: remove filter
49 releases
-
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)
-
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)
-
Butler announces major expansion of bowel cancer screening programme
UUP Health Minister Robbie Butler announces a phased widening of bowel cancer screening invitations, starting with those aged 59 from 2 November 2026, 58-year-olds from April 2027, and full eligibility for ages 50 to 74 by 2031.
Health Issue: Bowel cancer screening expansion to younger age groups from November Original release: Butler announces major expansion of bowel cancer screening programme (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Health Minister announces Support While Waiting Grant Scheme
UUP reports Health Minister Robbie Butler has announced £500,000 to extend the Support While Waiting Grant Scheme for another year, funding voluntary groups to offer free support to people on HSCNI waiting lists. Applications open 25 September 2026 and close 6 November 2026.
Health Issue: Support While Waiting Grant Scheme extension announcement Original release: Health Minister announces Support While Waiting Grant Scheme (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Paul Lawless Launches Mayo Bones Bus to Help Orthopaedic Patients Access Treatment
Aontú TD Paul Lawless announces the Mayo Bones Bus, an initiative to help people with hip, knee and other bone or joint conditions obtain information on cross-border treatment options amid long orthopaedic waiting lists. It follows his Mayo Cataract Bus, with an information session planned in…
Health Original release: Paul Lawless Launches Mayo Bones Bus to Help Orthopaedic Patients Access Treatment (opens in a new tab)Archived copy, Internet Archive capture of 24 September 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Lyons announces £750k for musical instruments
The DUP reports that Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has announced a £750,000 boost to the Musical Instruments Programme, now reopened for bands, groups and individuals to buy instruments, with applications closing 15 October.
Other Issue: Musical Instruments Programme £750,000 funding reopening Original release: Lyons announces £750k for musical instruments (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Health Minister announces £1.25million for community cancer support
Health Minister Robbie Butler announces a £1.25million second-year Cancer Charities Grant Scheme with Macmillan Cancer Support, funding community wellbeing, rehabilitation, transport and practical support for people affected by cancer.
Health Public finance and taxation Original release: Health Minister announces £1.25million for community cancer support (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 11 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
-
Health Minister highlights gynaecology care closer to home
Health Minister Robbie Butler highlights primary care gynaecology services, including HRT, heavy menstrual bleeding, LARC and pessary replacement, that avoid hospital referral, after visiting Lisnaskea Primary Care Centre. He says the model is reform in practice and cites around 650 patients…
Health Original release: Health Minister highlights gynaecology care closer to home (opens in a new tab)
-
Expert committee announced to provide advice on major HSC service changes
The UUP says the Health Minister, Robbie Butler, has published the Hospitals consultation outcomes and will set up an independent reconfiguration committee to advise on major or controversial service changes, with its advice published. The party reports that hospital categorisation proposals will…
Health Issue: Proposed Independent Reconfiguration Committee for hospital reform Original release: Expert committee announced to provide advice on major HSC service changes (opens in a new tab)
-
Lyons secures future of one of Northern Ireland’s most important…
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons opens a new HERoNI archive store in the former Belfast War Room at Mount Eden Park, saying the project secures a permanent home for records documenting more than 45,000 historic sites.
Other Issue: HERoNI Archive Store opening at former Belfast War Room Original release: Lyons secures future of one of Northern Ireland’s most important… (opens in a new tab)
-
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)
-
Baby Loss Certificates a compassionate step forward for grieving…
South Down DUP MLA Diane Forsythe welcomes the completion of the final legislative stage for baby loss certificates, which open for applications in June, giving formal recognition to parents who lose a baby before 24 weeks.
Health Issue: Baby loss certificates legislation completes final stage Original release: Baby Loss Certificates a compassionate step forward for grieving… (opens in a new tab)
-
Baby loss certificate will enable parents and families to have loss formally acknowledged – Dolan
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan says the baby loss certificate regulations, coming into effect in June, will let parents and families have their loss formally acknowledged. She commends the Finance Minister and department for bringing the scheme forward.
Health Issue: Baby loss certificates legislation completes final stage Original release: Baby loss certificate will enable parents and families to have loss formally acknowledged – Dolan (opens in a new tab)
-
Health Minister welcomes additional £100m Transformation and National Lottery funding
UUP Health Minister Mike Nesbitt welcomes over £100m in Public Service Transformation Bid funding, including £42m for an ePharmacy programme to replace paper prescriptions and £29.2m for Together for Families, plus £30m from the National Lottery Community Fund.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Executive Transformation Fund allocations announcement Original release: Health Minister welcomes additional £100m Transformation and National Lottery funding (opens in a new tab)
-
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announces changes to areas of childcare regulation
UUP's Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announces he has approved changes to childcare regulation after consultation, limiting GP-countersigned health declarations to senior childcare roles and altering adult:child ratios for childminders and group day care from 1 June 2026.
Education Health Issue: Health Minister childcare regulation changes on GP declarations and adult:child ratios Original release: Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announces changes to areas of childcare regulation (opens in a new tab)
-
Health Minister announces new clinic and additional new dentists with £8m funding boost for dental services
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announces £8m for general dental services, including six extra dental foundation training places, continued child examination funding and a new urgent dental clinic in the west of the region.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: £8m general dental services funding boost announced by Health Minister Original release: Health Minister announces new clinic and additional new dentists with £8m funding boost for dental services (opens in a new tab)
-
Minister Nesbitt announces Cancer Charities Grant Scheme recipients
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announces that 16 cancer service charities will share funding from the Cancer Charities Grant Scheme, jointly backed by his department and Macmillan, to deliver local support such as mental health help, rehabilitation and transport.
Health Issue: Cancer Charities Grant Scheme recipients announced Original release: Minister Nesbitt announces Cancer Charities Grant Scheme recipients (opens in a new tab)
-
Wildfires Plan will protect communities, nature and the Mournes, says McMurray
Alliance MLA Andrew McMurray calls the Wildfires Action Plan to 2030, published by DAERA Minister Andrew Muir, a timely intervention for the countryside after around 200 wildfires. He highlights rewetting peatlands and the Wildfire Recovery Project led by the Pau Costa Foundation in at-risk areas…
Environment and climate Issue: Wildfires Action Plan to 2030 publication by DAERA Original release: Wildfires Plan will protect communities, nature and the Mournes, says McMurray (opens in a new tab)
-
Burrows Announces Senior Leadership Team
Ulster Unionist Party Leader-Elect Jon Burrows MLA announces his senior leadership team ahead of his ratification, confirming Mike Nesbitt MLA continues as Health Minister and Diana Armstrong MLA becomes Chief Whip alongside her role as Deputy Leader, and reaffirms staying in the Executive.
Health Issue: Ulster Unionist Party senior leadership team announcement by Jon Burrows Original release: Burrows Announces Senior Leadership Team (opens in a new tab)
-
New support grant scheme for patients
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announces a £500,000 Support While Waiting Grant Scheme, with awards of £5,000 to £30,000 for voluntary groups offering wellbeing and practical help to people on HSC waiting lists. Applications close on 30 January 2026.
Health Issue: Support While Waiting Grant Scheme launch Original release: New support grant scheme for patients (opens in a new tab)