Northern Ireland

Health minister hints that new senior official could oversee all health trusts

The health minister said reducing the number of health trusts would be a waste of energy, preferring the option of a new senior figure to coordinate efforts

The leaders of the health trusts in Northern Ireland give evidence to Stormont Health Committee.
The leaders of the health trusts in Northern Ireland giving evidence to Stormont Health Committee in November.
By Allan Preston

THE health minister has suggested he will appoint a new senior official, with power over all of Northern Ireland’s health trusts.

Mike Nesbitt made the comments on Thursday’s BBC Nolan Show when asked if he had considered reducing the number of trusts from five to one.

Agreeing that Northern Ireland was small enough for such a change, he said it would be a waste of energy which would distract from reform.

Instead, he indicated that a new senior official role could be created to better coordinate the running of the trusts.

“In my head, those five trusts are one. And what I want them to do is to find best practice wherever it is, and roll it out so it is common practice,” he said.

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On the idea of a new over-arching chief executive, he said: “You’re not far off the money. I can’t tell you a lot more at this stage, but there are changes in terms of senior officials coming this year.”

Northern Ireland Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has warned of the consequences of the draft budget on health services
Northern Ireland Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has warned of the consequences of the draft budget on health services (Liam McBurney/PA)

He added later: “I think with just the way things are falling with people moving on, I think there is an opportunity for a restructuring…it’s maybe about having somebody who is more across the day-to-day operations of the geographic trusts.”

This month, the southern trust’s Chief Executive Dr Maria O’Kane stepped down with immediate effect “to pursue other career opportunities” with the trust now seeking a replacement.

On Wednesday, Mr Nesbitt issued a statement on the draft budget predicting that despite £8.4bn for health – half of Northern Ireland’s entire budget – his department would still be left with a £400m shortfall that would not allow him to pursue his reform plans or reduce waiting lists.

He ruled out resigning in protest, but said failing to properly fund health would cost lives.

“I accept every minister is working with a budget that doesn’t suit their purposes and their needs in full,” he said.

“What I’m saying is, if you cut my budget too tightly you’re putting lives at risk. This is about people’s health.

“I understand there are competing pressures, but have we really sat down and prioritised and understood, the kind of league table of needs and the implications if services are cut?”

Mr Nesbitt said he had been looking towards retirement before accepting the health portfolio, but would now make a decision on his future career by May 2026.

Commenting on a new report from the Royal College of Nursing, detailing how patients across the UK were dying in hospital corridors, he said: “Corridor care is a thing, it didn’t start on my watch. Will it end on my watch? That would be an ambition. Can it be fixed in its entirety by next winter? That is a bold ambition.”

He referenced meeting a patient in Altnagelvin who had been sitting in a corridor chair for four days.

“You should not have to surrender your dignity and your privacy for four days when you arrive in hospital,” he said.

“The staff who are working should not have to feel that kind of moral indignity and moral damage.”