Department of Health NI

03/05/2026

👀 Keep an eye out for our "This is our Health" crew at Belfast City Marathon

👋 Come say hello and join the public conversation on how we can build better health together in NI.

🏃 Good luck to all taking part!

02/05/2026

📆 This week in the Department:

💓 "This is our Health" was launched at the Abbeycentre, using retro devices

🏗️ The design team was appointed for a Mother & Baby Unit at Belfast City Hospital

🏘️ The Health Minister and Permanent Secretary attended a workshop for the Neighbourhood model

👶 Minister Nesbitt called in with the Ards Midwifery Service ahead of International Midwifery Day

🧑‍⚕️ Glengormley Practice showed their work on helping reduce waiting lists for gynaecology outpatients, vasectomy and minor surgeries

🌍 The Minister attended the Four Futures event showcasing climate sustainability pathways

01/05/2026

"The £2.9million funding set aside for the primary care elective service is making a real difference".

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt praised the work at Glengormley Practice tackling waiting lists for gynaecology, vasectomy and minor surgeries.

01/05/2026

🐣👏

01/05/2026

The critical role of primary care elective services has been highlighted by the Health Minister.

Minister Nesbitt visited Glengormley Practice to hear how it was reducing waiting lists for gynaecology outpatients, vasectomy and minor surgeries.

👇 More info

30/04/2026

👶 👩 The Health Minister has welcomed a "deeply important" moment for mothers, babies and families across NI.

🏗️ Minister Nesbitt visited the site of the Mother and Baby Unit at Belfast Health and Social Care Trust City Hospital and met the newly appointed design team.

📄 Minister's written statement: niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-business/official-report/written-ministerial-statements/department-of-health-regional-mother-and-baby-unit/

29/04/2026

✅ The Health Minister has launched the "This is our Health" programme.

🤝 The large scale innovation is designed to establish a clear, shared deal between the NI public and the health and social care system.

👉 More info: health-ni.gov.uk/news/minister-nesbitt-launches-our-health-engagement-programme

29/04/2026

28/04/2026

🏘️ "It's the beginning of the Neighbourhood approach for Northern Ireland."

👥 Permanent Secretary Mike Farrar attended an Integrated Neighbourhood Teams programme development workshop.

☝️ Hear how the model aims to provide services at neighbourhood level

28/04/2026

👐 Twenty voluntary and community sector organisations will receive a share of a £500,000 fund to assist individuals currently on health and social care waiting lists.

🫶 Health Minister Mike Nesbitt called their contribution "invaluable."

👇 More info

25/04/2026

🏆 The Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Professor Cathy Harrison has been honoured with the Special Recognition award at the NI Healthcare Awards 2026.

👏 The Health Minister Mike Nesbitt attended the event and congratulated Professor Harrison on her deserved award.

24/04/2026

🧪 "If we want to attract the best, we have to have the best of facilities."

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt spoke at the launch of LifeCells NI, which aims to become NI's Northern Ireland’s first dedicated Human Tissue Authority licensed stem cell storage facility.