Health Minister recognises excellence in elective care

Date published: 7 January 2026

The award, presented by the Elective Care Management Team (ECMT), recognises good innovation, improved practice and excellent patient-centred care across the Health and Social Care system.

Minister Nesbitt visited the Day of Surgery Unit to thank staff in person, to see the service in action and to hear about best practice initiatives supporting elective care delivery and progress on waiting lists within Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

During the visit, the Minister met staff and patients, observed the patient pathway from admission through to theatre, and discussed innovative approaches being used to improve communication, patient flow and experience.

Speaking during the visit, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said: 

“I am delighted to visit the Day of Surgery Unit at Belfast City Hospital and to personally thank staff for their exceptional work.

“The compassionate, patient-centred care provided by this team is evident. Staff work collaboratively, go above and beyond to reduce pre-operative delays and waiting times, and consistently uphold high professional standards. The excellent patient feedback for the unit is a testament to the quality of care being delivered.

“The outcomes achieved here including faster access to surgery, increased capacity and more efficient use of hospital beds are to be warmly commended.”

The Belfast City Hospital Day of Surgery Unit supports a wide range of surgical specialties and enables patients to be admitted on the day of their procedure, reducing length of stay and improving the overall patient experience. Over the past three years, the unit has steadily increased activity, admitting more than 4,000 patients annually and helping to free up inpatient beds for higher-acuity care.

Minister Nesbitt added: 

“Reducing waiting lists remains one of my central priorities as Health Minister. We are seeing very real progress across Northern Ireland, with targeted efforts helping to reduce some of our longest waits and bring more patients the care they need more quickly. Through the Elective Care Framework and our Reset Plan for waiting lists, we are treating significant numbers of time-critical patients and reducing the longest waiting times, while also increasing planned surgical capacity across the system.  

“This work reflects the commitment and professionalism of staff across the health service, and units like this one show what can be achieved when great teams are supported to innovate and deliver for patients.

“There is still much work to do, but the progress being made at Belfast City Hospital and across the region shows that improvement is possible. We will continue to build on this momentum to deliver faster, safer and more sustainable care for all.”

Jennifer Welsh, Chief Executive of Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, said: 

“The Day of Surgery Unit is an excellent example of best practice in elective surgery delivery. Under the leadership of Sister Rachel Canning, the team shows how strong clinical leadership and teamwork can drive high standards of care across multiple surgical specialties.”

The Elective Care Recognition Award highlights examples of best practice and aims to encourage continued improvement in the delivery of elective care.