Aidan O'Neill

Ulster Unionist Health Minister Robbie Butler MLA has today set out his approach to the future of hospital services across Northern Ireland, following the public consultation on Hospitals – Creating a Network for Better Outcomes. With almost 30,000 written responses received, the Minister said the message from the public is clear: reform is needed, but it must be done differently. The Minister has set out a number of key actions: 🔵 Hospital categorisation proposals will not be progressed at this stage, with a review of the proposed model and terminology to take place. 🔵 A new Independent Reconfiguration Committee will be established to provide independent expert scrutiny of major or controversial proposals for permanent changes to health and social care services. 🔵 The Committee will examine patient safety, service quality, clinical effectiveness, sustainability, evidence and consultation, with its advice published for transparency. 🔵 Existing guidance on the change or withdrawal of services will be reviewed, including requirements around evidence, transparency, early engagement and rural and equality impacts. 🔵 The Department’s Transport Strategy for Health and Social Care will also be reviewed, recognising the impact of travel distances, ambulance capacity and public transport on patients, particularly in rural communities. The Minister has been clear that services should continue to be delivered locally wherever this can be done safely and sustainably, while recognising that some specialist services may need to be delivered on a regional or networked basis. Following visits to South West Acute Hospital and Causeway Hospital, Minister Butler has also emphasised the importance of listening directly to clinicians, staff, patients and communities before major decisions are taken. Minister Butler’s message is clear: reform is necessary, but it must be evidence led, properly scrutinised and focused on delivering the best outcomes for patients. “We really need to do reform better.”

⁉️💥BREAKING: Jon Burrows will name a new Health Minister tomorrow. Will the next Minister be a ‘puppet’? Will Mike Nesbitt be disciplined over his resignation letter? 🎤🎥@uuponline Leader @JonBurrowsMLA tells Chief Reporter @jamesgould23 that he never instructed former Health Minister Mike Nesbitt on how to do his job or make decisions. He says the next Health Minister will be named tomorrow. He was also asked whether the UUP will take disciplinary action against Mr Nesbitt over his resignation letter. The resignation came following a clash with UUP leader Jon Burrows over the future of emergency general surgery at Causeway Hospital. Mr Burrows told a town hall meeting that he did not support the removal of emergency general surgery from Causeway. The Northern Health Trust had previously recommended that emergency general surgery should be provided at only one of its hospital sites. It is understood the Department of Health was still awaiting a final recommendation. More on-air and online.

EXCLUSIVE: Mike Nesbitt has resigned as Health Minister in a dramatic move which has shaken Stormont & the UUP. It comes amidst a reported clash with Jon Burrows over emergency general surgery at Causeway Hospital. belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/…

To celebrate #WorldOsteoporosisDay a group of ROS volunteers and nurses from the Belfast FLS went along to the @niassembly where they spoke with @ClaireSugden @mikenesbittni and many more MLAs about the importance of bone health.