Latest news with #Nesbitt
ITV News
3 days ago
- Health
- ITV News
Fire safety inspection finds ‘substantial risk' at two RVH wards
Our Health Correspondent Deborah McAleese unpacks issues raised during ministerial questions. A fire safety inspection found a 'substantial risk' at two wards in Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has minister has said the revelation will do 'nothing to try and restore public and political confidence' in the beleaguered Belfast ministerial questions on Monday, DUP MLA Diane Dodds asked Mr Nesbitt to explain what significant concerns the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service have about the hospital. She said: 'Do you know when the trust was first advised about these concerns and can you confirm that the Fire and Rescue Service is pursuing an enforcement notice in relation to this?'Mr Nesbitt told MLAs: 'A fire safety audit was carried out at the Royal Victoria Hospital on June 4.'That was by personnel from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service.'They did so under the Fire and Rescue Service's Northern Ireland Order 2006.'The outcome of the audit found a substantial risk at Ward 4 and Ward 7 with a score rating that falls within the enforcement notice category.'The minister said a follow-up meeting had taken place on June 11 to assist the Belfast Trust in making the 'necessary improvements' with another planned for Tuesday added: 'I appreciate the pragmatic approach the Fire and Rescue Service takes to working with responsible persons and audited premises to mitigate risk.'In this case the Fire and Rescue Service inspection officers continued to do so with the Belfast Trust officials.'I accept the point that this does nothing to try and restore public and political confidence in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.'Earlier this month, Mr Nesbitt confirmed the trust is facing the highest-level accountability process following a critical report into the staff culture at the cardiac surgery unit in the Royal Victoria a meeting of the Stormont Health Committee it was stated that the report contained allegations of bullying of junior staff by more senior staff, heart surgeons working from home and the throwing of medical instruments during trust has also faced criticism for delays in the opening of the new maternity and children's hospitals on the Royal Unionist MLA Alan Chambers asked the minister if he was satisfied works were now progressing satisfactorily on the new children's Nesbitt said: 'I can say that I am satisfied with the verbal assurance I got as recently as yesterday that work is progressing on the children's hospital on time and to budget.'That said, we are in the foothills of a very long building works campaign.'I am happy to report the Falls Road has not collapsed.'I don't say that flippantly, but there has to be work carried out in the first instance to ensure that road is shored up and that appears to have been done successfully.'
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Health minister to set out plan to tackle 'bullying' within Belfast Trust
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt is expected to set out his department's next steps in tackling behavioural and cultural issues within the Belfast Trust later on Thursday. Last week, a leaked review laid bare bullying allegations within the regional cardiac surgery unit, with reports of some surgeons throwing instruments at staff during procedures. It is understood the plans could see the unit placed on the highest level of the intervention framework - level five - commonly known as special measures. Health unions have since expressed concerns that the issues are not isolated to one unit within the trust. A hospital trust or facility is placed in special measures when it is rated as being "inadequate", when questions are raised over leadership or when it is unable to make sufficient improvements in a reasonable timeframe. Politicians, including the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) assembly member Diane Dodds, have been calling for this to happen, saying it followed a series of controversies within the trust. The chair of the Belfast Trust, Ciaran Mulgrew, has insisted that the organisation is working to resolve the issues. He met the health minister last Friday, with Nesbitt saying afterwards that his department was finalising a series of interventions to help "rebuild staff and public confidence". It is understood that Nesbitt also met health unions and stakeholders earlier this week to brief them on his upcoming plans. He is expected to publish the details in a written statement to the assembly on Thursday. Unison's Patricia McKeown said during her meeting with the health minister the union was very clear about the immediate issue of "poor culture and bad conduct that needs to be sorted out". She told BBC News NI's Good Morning Ulster programme that health service unions say the problems within cardiac units are not an "isolated incident". "[It] is symptomatic of a failure of leadership, failure of accountability and governance and co-operation right across our health service," she added. Ms McKeown said the health service cannot be run on whistleblowing. "Whistleblowing is something that happens when real management, real relationships have broken down and that's what needs to be put right," she said. "There's a systemic problem right across the entire health service, it's been going wrong for nearly 20 years bit by bit getting worse as time goes on and that's got to be fixed." She added that unions have models that would "start to put the culture right". "The workforce and unions must be at the table to come up with solutions for a problem that has festered for far too long." The report said an "apparent power battle" had been unfolding between some senior doctors in the cardiac surgical department of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. Some 70 staff spoke anonymously and the report stated there were "clear tensions" between different groups of staff. The report also detailed the throwing of instruments during surgery as well as "verbal abuse". The report added that while there was one consultant "particularly prone" to throwing instruments in theatre, the behaviour was not unique and nursing staff were bearing the "brunt of the bullying". In a statement, the Department of Health said the health minister has made clear that the behaviours detailed in the report on the cardiac surgical unit at Belfast Trust are "appalling and he is holding the trust's senior management accountable for its response". "The minister has held detailed meetings with the trust chair and with health service trades unions and representative bodies. "He will inform the NI Assembly by way of a written ministerial statement about a planned series of departmental interventions. "These will include accountability measures as well as the provision of external support to help the trust rebuild staff and public confidence." Surgeons threw instruments and bullied nurses - report Cardiac surgical unit issues will not be ignored, says trust Behaviour of some heart surgeons 'appalling', says minister
ITV News
03-06-2025
- Business
- ITV News
James Nesbitt 'disappointed' at closure of 'iconic' Coleraine theatre where career began
Hollywood actor and Coleraine native James Nesbitt says he is 'disappointed' over a decision by Ulster University to close the Riverside Theatre. Nesbitt, who honed his craft at the venue and was Chancellor of the university for 10 years also expressed his sadness at the long term reduction in arts investment across the North West. Ulster University says the cost of running the theatre does not align with their academic goals and available funding stating the building would require significant capital investment to remain in use, with refurbishment works estimated to cost nearly £750,000, in addition to annual running costs of almost £500,000. The Riverside Theatre at Ulster University's Coleraine campus has been at the heart of performing arts in the town since it was opened by Queen Elizabeth II almost 50 years ago. Its stage has been graced by the likes of Liam Neeson and of course James Nesbitt. After hitting the stage in Coleraine, he went on to superstardom with hits including ITV's Cold Feet and the Hobbit movies. In January 2025, the university announced that it was looking into how the theatre was funded. In March it proposed Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council consider a lease agreement for the venue with a meeting expected to take place in June. However on 29 May the university announced the closure in August. Mr Nesbitt expressed his sadness at the closure: 'It's so disappointing that the university of which I was Chancellor for 10 years finds itself in the position that it feels it necessary to close this iconic arts venue which was the launch pad of my career. "However, I'm also disappointed in the long- term reduction in investment in the arts by the arts council, the NI Executive and the local authority in performing arts in the North West. "I think the agencies involved need to get together to invest in the future of the arts in this community. It will be sorely missed.' Mr Nesbitt is not the only one disappointed by the news of the theatres imminent closure. A protest outside Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council offices in Coleraine is planned while a petition to save the venue has got more than 3,500 signatures. In a statement Ulster University added: "We remain focused on the university's core purpose: to deliver high-quality teaching and impactful research across our multiple campuses; and in the face of unprecedented financial challenges, with the funding model in Northern Ireland acknowledged as unsustainable, it is more important than ever that we focus our resources on core academic activities. "Having supported and delivered this civic asset for 50 years, the building itself has now come to the end of its life and requires significant capital investment to remain in use. "This is estimated at £745,000 in the immediate term alone and is in addition to the annual running costs of £495,000. "While we appreciate that this news will come as a disappointment to many, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the artists, audiences, staff, and supporters who have made the Riverside Theatre such a special place for so many years." Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dentists say funding plan will not transform services
The radical transformation needed for the survival of health service dentistry will not be delivered under proposals from the health minister, the British Dental Association (BDA) has said. On Wednesday Mike Nesbitt provided details of a £7m investment in general dental services for 2025-26. The chairwoman of the Northern Ireland Dental Practice Committee said dentists were "hoping for more" following the proposed dental funding. Ciara Gallagher said she understood the budgetary constraints Nesbitt was working under but was disappointed for patients and colleagues. Nesbitt also announced the expansion of the Happy Smiles programme. "Alongside these specific interventions, I am clear that the general dental services, as with other services, require sustained effort to ensure sustainability over the longer term," he said. "My department is committed to advancing work on the long-term future of dental services, to ensure patients can continue to access care when they need it, whilst taking measures to ensure the service is sustainable." Nesbitt said he had approved the commissioning of a review into the cost of general dental services, which should be completed by the end of 2026. He said this would "provide a robust evidence base to inform how the service will develop over the coming years". Ms Gallagher said the funding was "largely a continuation" of measures that were already in place and it would make "even more difficulties for patients to access care". "That's why we cannot recommend these proposals as they stand to the profession," she said. "We urgently need radical transformation of dental services here, but this isn't it. "Despite the efforts of the minister, our question to the executive is how can dentistry be transformed with such a constrained health budget?" Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme, dentist Rachele Crozier said the hope was the "minister would do something that would help sustain and encourage people to remain in the NHS, and continue to provide NHS care". She said dentists needed more clarity on the funding. "There is not very much detail yet. Dentists don't really know how that funding will look, when it will come to us, how it is going to come to us," she said. The system in its current state, she added, is "teetering on the brink of collapse and ultimately it is patients who will suffer." The BDA has called for immediate short-term "bridging" support for dental practices as a lifeline to cover costs. This follows a meeting with the health minister who outlined his department's proposals for 2025-26 to BDA representatives, following a debate on access to dentistry in Stormont on 27 May. The BDA said that the "consensus is that the current dental contract isn't fit for purpose and in some instances fails to cover costs". In April, BBC News NI learned that dentists in Northern Ireland had removed more than 53,000 NHS patients from their practice lists over the past two years. During 2023 and 2024, 114 dentists handed back their NHS contracts to the Department of Health (DoH), with many of these now doing private work only. Out of the 360 dental practices in Northern Ireland, only two are now fully NHS. More than 53,000 NHS patients removed from dentist lists Dentists to 'shrink NHS element' to 'keep the lights on'
RTÉ News
28-05-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
Northern Ireland health service facing £600m budget shortfall
Northern Ireland's health service is expected to face a £600 million budget shortfall. Stormont Health Minister Mike Nesbitt described financial plans being finalised which will be "unprecedented in their scale and ambition" and involve "extremely difficult and painful savings measures". In a written statement to the Assembly, Mr Nesbitt said the projected £600 million is the "scale of the gap between existing funding and what's needed to maintain services". He told MLAs he will play his part and "do everything I can to achieve a breakeven budget", but also urged the Executive and the Assembly to support him. "My permanent secretary is finalising financial plans that will be unprecedented in their scale and ambition," he said. "They will involve an extremely difficult and indeed painful series of savings measures for HSC trusts. "I can assure the Assembly that I will drive forward savings to reduce the projected shortfall." "To repeat, I will play my part and do everything I can to achieve a breakeven budget. "But I will need Executive and Assembly support." Mr Nesbitt also confirmed he is ordering the paying of £200 million recommended pay increases despite not having the budget to cover it. It includes 3.6% for nurses and staff under Agenda for Change, 4% for doctors, and 4% plus £750 for resident doctors - formerly known as junior doctors. That requires a ministerial directive to be made to the department's permanent secretary to proceed despite not having the necessary budget. It will go to the Finance Minister, John O'Dowd, and potentially be passed to the Executive for approval. Mr Nesbitt told MLAs the move involves the risk of an overspend for the department, but that not paying the pay increases also involves risks. "There is an undeniable risk that the department could be on a path towards a potential overspend," he said. "I have also concluded that there are also substantial risks in not proceeding with the pay increases - the biggest risk is failing to deliver on my promise to deliver 'better outcomes'. "I do not want health service staff to be demoralised by inaction and another year of uncertainty on pay. They deserve better than that. This is about treating with respect the people who keep us healthy, fix us when we are broken and keep us alive when death becomes a potential outcome. "Falling behind pay levels across the water will also exacerbate challenges with recruitment and retention of health service staff." He added that pay parity with England for Agenda for Change staff is a "well-established and hard-fought principle" that he intends to maintain. "Failure to do so would undoubtedly lead to industrial action with all the disruption to patient care that will involve," he said. "Not to mention the negative impact on the focus to reduce waiting lists, or the overdue need to reform healthcare delivery. "In short, the risk of a potential budget overspend must be balanced against the significant risk to service provision." Potential for NI to have 'one fo the best health systems in the world' The new leader of Northern Ireland's Department of Health says there is potential for the region to have one of the best health systems in the world. Mike Farrar took up the position of permanent secretary in mid April, having previously held senior positions within the NHS in England. Mr Farrar emphasised while there are several big immediate challenges in the health service, he is optimistic about the future for the health service. He said around half of the £600m budget shortfall is in the health trusts where they have been running deficits, while £200m is to meet recommended pay increases for health workers and £66m for increased national insurance contributions. "That's come about largely because the budget that was voted for health this year really didn't have an allowance at the scale of the pay awards we're facing, and we haven't in the past I think, really pushed as hard as we are now pushing to get real efficiency out of the system," he said. "On my watch, we're going to take a stand and we're going to try to live within our means but that takes a while to do. "In the short term I need some support." He said they hope to reduce costs and improve services in some areas and said cuts which will impact services will be kept as a "last resort".
