Mike Nesbitt

Ulster Unionist Mark Ovens is to be banned from sitting as a councillor for two months for code of conduct breaches over his Stormont role. Photo: Fermanagh and Omagh Council

UUP councillor suspended for breaking rules over Stormont special advisor role

Nurses Sarah Donnelly (left) and Nicola Joyce on the picket line outside the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast in 2022, as nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland took industrial action over pay. Picture date: Tuesday December 20, 2022.

Royal College of Nursing ballots members for strike action over pay award delays

UUP MLAs and Assembly candidates join leader Jon Burrows and his wife Jenni on stage at the party conference.

David Thompson: The UUP is back - and voters have a real choice

Stormont Health Minister Robbie Butler

Butler says UUP leader has not set ‘red lines’ over running of health department

UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA is heading into his first UUP conference as leader

Unionism ‘has responsibility to give electorate something to vote for’ – Burrows

UUP Strangford Assembly candidate Cllr Richard Smart with party leader Jon Burrows.

Ulster Unionist Party unveils candidate it hopes will replace Mike Nesbitt

The Causeway Hospital has been at the centre of a political storm over whether certain services should be moved to Antrim.

Causeway doctor's concerns show there is 'no clinical consensus' - Burrows

A promotional video for the Encompass project said it was to replace old IT systems. Pic: HSC NI

Cancer referrals caught up in Encompass IT problems - MLA brands it 'horrific'

Robbie Butler has taken up the reins of the Department of Health from Mike Nesbitt

New health minister 'wants to give nurses a raise but Executive has to say yes'

A row over the future of Causeway hospital has already resulted in the resignation of Mike Nesbitt as health minister. Image: Google

Jim Allister slams 'orchestrated campaign' against Causeway hospital

Jon Burrows handled the fallout of Mike Nesbitt’s resignation well

Owen Polley: Burrows must make sure row doesn’t become part of pattern

Surgeons have written to UUP minister Robbie Butler to raise concerns over “significant challenges” facing surgical services in Northern Ireland

Surgeons raise concerns over services in letter to Health Minister

Mike Nesbitt pictured last year at the Pan American Health Organisation headquarters in Washington, during St Patrick's week.

David Thompson: Health is political, and a Nesbitt–Burrows clash was inevitable

A row over proposed changes at the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine resulted in the resignation of the health minister this week.

DUP's Frew questions 'perverse' delays in reaching Causeway Hospital decision

Robbie Butler signing in as the new minister at the Speaker’s Office in Parliament Buildings, Stormont, and is pictured with party leader Jon Burrows and Speaker Edwin Poots. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye

Quicker NHS care is Butler’s priority but stays silent on hospital row

Ulster Unionist MLA Robbie Butler (left) with Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows after he signed the pledge of office at Stormont Buildings, Belfast, following his appointed as new Health Minister. Pic: Mark Marlow/PA Wire

New health minister Robbie Butler dodges Causeway issue
Stormont’s new health minister Robbie Butler has promised to “listen most” to both the people using the health service – and those running it.
David Thompson

New health minister faces full in-tray, committee told

Robbie Butler signs in as Northern Ireland's new health minister

Breaking Robbie Butler set to be appointed Stormont’s health minister

Stormont Education Minister Paul Givan speaks to the media after meeting with students collecting their GCSE results at Dromore High School in Dromore, Co Down

Nationalists salivating over unionist difficulties, says Paul Givan

Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows speaks to the media in the Great Hall of Parliament Buildings at Stormont, accompanied by deputy leader Diana Armstrong. Mr Burrows has pledged to name his party's new Stormont Health Minister on Thursday following the resignation of Mike Nesbitt from the post.

Robbie Butler in line to be appointed new health minister later today

Donal O'Cofaigh speaks to supporters of community group SOAS (Save Our Acutes Services) from Fermanagh at Parliament Buildings at Stormont in Belfast in February, as they deliver letters demanding the restoration of emergency surgery at South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) in Enniskillen.

Fermanagh group calls for rescue of same service leaving Causeway Hospital

UUP leader Jon Burrows, with deputy leader Diana Armstrong, at a press conference in the Great Hall at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, regarding the resignation of Health Minister Mike Nesbitt. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye

Burrows presses on with new approach to health reform after Nesbitt resignation

Former UUP health minister Mike Nesbitt. Pic Liam McBurney/PA Wire

UUP’s rivals praise Nesbitt – but criticise Burrows over hospital reforms

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt resigned on Tuesday after friction with his party leader Jon Burrows over planned reforms to Causeway Hospital in Coleraine.

Resignation leaves opposition to Causeway plans stronger than ever

Justice Minister and Alliance Party leader Naomi Long. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Naomi Long rejects SDLP comments slamming the Executive over Mike Nesbitt's resi...

Mike Nesbitt quit as health minister, apparently expressing regret at having brought Jon Burrows into Stormont. Pic Liam McBurney/PA Wire

The 'Dear Jon' letter which ended an awkward and short-lived political marriage
That Mike Nesbitt’s resignation as health minister began with an apparent expression of regret at having brought Jon Burrows into Stormont speaks volumes about the impact the former policeman has had on the Ulster Unionist Party.
David Thompson

Steve Aiken, Jon Burrows, and Mike Nesbitt. Pic: Jonathan McCambridge/PA Wire

Burrows insists changing health minister will not interrupt health reform

Health minister Mike Nesbitt resigned on Tuesday after a fallout with UUP leader Jon Burrows

Ulster Unionist leader calls for ‘meaningful reform’ in health sector

The Northern Trust wants to close emergency general surgery at Causeway Hospital in Coleraine.

Causeway hospital would be 'turned into health centre' - DUP

Mike Nesbitt has quit as health minister, the News Letter understands. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Health minister Mike Nesbitt quits amid UUP row over Causeway hospital services

DUP MLA Paul Frew .

UUP stays quiet amid calls for clarity over its Causeway Hospital position

Jon Burrows backed calls to save emergency services in Coleraine at a meeting organised by the SoS Causeway Hospital group. Pic Facebook

UUP urged to clarify Causeway Hospital stance after Burrows comments

Coleraine Town Hall saw a packed meeting of people concerned about the loss of emergency surgery from Causeway Hospital. Photo: SOS Causeway Hospital/Facebook

Causeway Hospital: Public meeting shows minister must save surgery from cuts

Sinn Fein has “no intentions” of collapsing Northern Ireland’s powersharing institutions, Finance Minister John O’Dowd has insisted.

Sinn Fein has no intentions of collapsing Stormont, John O’Dowd says

Morning View

Editorial: Welcome leadership from unionist parties on puberty blockers

UUP Health minister Mike Nesbitt paused Northern Ireland's involvement in a puberty blocker trial in February. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

UUP won't support NI involvement in controversial puberty blocker trial

Health minister Mike Nesbitt paused Northern Ireland's involvement in a puberty blocker trial in February. Pic: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

DUP say Northern Irish children should not be part of puberty blocker trials

Proposals include restricting multi-buys, unlimited refills and selling close to tills. Photo: stock.adobe.com

New NI shop laws on pizza, chocolate and breakfast cereals 'will tackle obesity'

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has admitted health data doesn't always record biological sex.

Health minister admits men could be called for cervical screening

Pictured at the Breastfeeding Action Plan launch at Stormont are, Jennifer Hanratty (Breastival chair), Laura Orr (Breastival deputy chair), Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, Claire Flynn (Breastival board member), Deborah Rice (Breastival board member), Abi Sharpe (Breastival volunteer)

New plan aims to break breastfeeding barriers

Mike Nesbitt emptying bins as he relived his student job in north Down on Thursday 16 July 2026.

Nesbitt jumps back 50 years to relive time ‘on the bins’

Vapes are to be put in plain packaging under proposals which aim to stop the devices being marketed to children

Vapes to be put in plain packaging to protect children

Resident doctors on the picket line outside Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast as they take part in a 24-hour walkout over pay. Photo date: Monday June 29, 2026. (PA Photo)

Doctors take to picket lines - but minister says less than 25% voted to strike

Today's strike is to be followed by another one on Monday (photo by STEPHANE OUZOUNOFF/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)

Highest-paid doctors in NI 'will earn more than English ones after pay rise'

Bowel Cancer UK staff and partners at Stormont with their letter signed by MLAs

Act now on bowel screening, MLAs warn

The specialist doctors are one of three groups of doctors who are striking over pay this month in Northern Ireland (photo by RICCARDO MILANI/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)

Consultants and specialist doctors on strike today over 'pay erosion'

Health minister Mike Nesbitt has said 'the main conclusion for me is that patients suffered serious harm'

Patients failed amid systemic governance failures, Urology Inquiry finds

William Street Dental and Implant Centre has officially opened the doors of its new state-of-the-art facility in Portadown. Pictured are the centre's owners by Dr James McKee and Dr Pádraic Conroy, Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt and chief dental officer Professor Caroline Lappin

New era for 60-year NI dental practice as new state-of-the-art facility opens

Health minister Mike Nesbitt launched the scheme along with Sinn Fein's John O'Dowd

Some 1,800 applications for baby-loss certificates in first 24 hours

Junior doctors on the picket line outside the Royal Victoria Hospital in west Belfast during a 48 hour strike in Northern Ireland over pay and staff retention in May 2024. Photo: Rebecca Black

Doctors strike to cancel routine and elective services

Morning View

Editorial: Hospital report needs action, as does overall care

(left to right) Professor Glynis Murphy, Chair Tom Kark KC and Dr Elaine Maxwell, ahead of the publication of the report for the inquiry, which examined allegations of the abuse of vulnerable patients at Muckamore Hospital, in Co Antrim, a hospital for adults with severe learning disabilities and mental health needs run by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

Muckamore abuse inquiry finds ‘profound and deeply troubling’ failures in care

Muckamore Abbey, run by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, was a hospital in Co Antrim for adults with severe learning disabilities and mental health needs.

Inquiry into abuse at Muckamore to publish its findings

There had reportedly been recent friction between Alan Chambers and the party leadership

UUP MLAs signing petition of concern followed reports of friction within party

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