Health minister vows to cut private spending


THE HEALTH Minister has vowed to reduce the amount being paid to private providers to deliver public services, following a recent report in the ‘Herald. Minister Mike Nesbitt was responding to questions in the Assembly chamber about revelations in this paper that in the past four years £150 million was paid from the public purse to private providers to […]

Mixed reaction over Minister’s move to vaccinate children


CHILDREN aged between 12 and 15 years old will be offered a first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine shortly. According to the North’s chief medical officer, Michael McBride, children will “benefit” from the dose after concerns over the impact that missing face-to-face school has had on the emotional and physical health of young people. “Education […]

Cross-border health scheme reinstated


THE CROSS-border health scheme, which has benefited many in Fermanagh but had fallen victim to Brexit, has been reinstated by the Executive in a bid to tackle ever-growing waiting lists. As reported in the Herald earlier this year, the EU directive on cross-border health, which saw many local patients travel south for hip replacements and […]

Health Minister publishes guide to restrictions


The Department of Health has published guidance on the coronavirus restrictions. The Executive announced on 28 May that guidance on the regulations would be published and this is now available on the Department of Health website. The guidance sets out in one document what the restrictions mean for individuals, for businesses and for other bodies […]