News, analysis, and updates on public health policies, healthcare services, medical research, and initiatives to improve health and well-being in Northern Ireland.
The final report of the Muckamore Abbey Hospital Public Inquiry has been published today, six years after the statutory investigation was first announced. The 700-page document concludes the UK’s largest-ever criminal adult safeguarding inquiry, detailing decades of physical, sexual and psychological abuse of vulnerable patients at the County Antrim facility […]
Mike Nesbitt has reappointed Paul Cummings as Independent Chair of the Health and Social Care Pension Board (HSCPB) for a second four-year term. The appointment takes effect on 1 July 2026 and runs until 30 June 2030, with Mr Cummings overseeing governance of pension schemes for thousands of health and
The number of adults registered with a Health Service dentist in Northern Ireland has fallen to its lowest level since 2009, with new official statistics revealing a six percentage point drop in just twelve months. The Department of Health’s latest dental data, published today, shows that only 44% of adults
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has formally congratulated Professor Ian Young on his appointment as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2026 Birthday Honours, recognising a decade of service as the Department of Health’s Chief Scientific Advisor during which he shaped Northern Ireland’s research landscape
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt visited Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex to recognise the “excellent work” of staff tackling Northern Ireland’s hospital waiting lists. The visit highlighted the contribution of the hospital’s Regional Endoscopy Centre and Day Procedure Centre to reducing regional backlogs, as new quarterly statistics show continued reductions
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has announced a one-off vaccination programme to protect Northern Ireland teenagers and new university students against Meningococcal B (MenB) disease. The targeted rollout, expected to begin in mid-to-late July, follows multiple cases of invasive meningococcal disease identified in South East England earlier this year. The programme
Senior health officials in Northern Ireland have issued an extraordinary condemnation of racist violence sweeping across the region, revealing that international healthcare workers have been specifically targeted by masked mobs and warning that the health service would “collapse” without their continued presence. The statement from the Department of Health’s Chief
The Business Services Organisation (BSO) has published its annual statistics for Northern Ireland’s General Ophthalmic Services, revealing that nearly half a million health service sight tests were carried out last year amid rising costs and shifting workforce patterns. The report, covering the 2025/26 financial year, shows that while patient numbers
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has paid tribute to fire and ambulance crews who faced physical attacks and obstruction while tackling blazes during two nights of violent disorder across Northern Ireland. The minister issued a strong condemnation of the “reprehensible racist and xenophobic behaviour” directed at minority communities, while reaffirming that
The Department of Health has launched recruitment for a new Chair of the Dental Committee at the Business Services Organisation (BSO), seeking an experienced general dental practitioner to oversee treatment approvals and professional standards. The appointment comes as Northern Ireland’s dental service faces severe strain, with patient registrations plummeting and
