Surgeons responds to resignation of Northern Ireland Health Minister Mike Nesbitt
19 Aug 2026
Responding to the resignation of Northern Ireland Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, Niall McGonigle, Northern Ireland Director of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England), said:
"We would like to thank Mike Nesbitt for his service as Health Minister and for his commitment to improving health and care services in Northern Ireland. During his tenure, he worked to address long waiting times for treatment and the significant pressures facing NHS staff and services.
"As health and care services continue to experience significant demand, it is important that momentum is maintained on plans to improve patient care and strengthen services. Patients and healthcare professionals need continued focus on delivering improvements to care rather than uncertainty or delay. The Royal College of Surgeons supports the modernisation and transformation of surgical services where this improves outcomes for patients and helps ensure services are sustainable for the future. We would encourage all parties to continue working collaboratively in the interests of patients and to support the stability of the health service."
ENDS
Notes to editors
1. The Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) provides world-class education, assessment, and development to 30,000 surgeons, dental professionals, and members of the wider surgical and dental care teams, at all stages of their career. Our vision is to see excellent surgical care for everyone. We do this by setting professional standards, facilitating research, and championing the best outcomes for patients.
2. A Professional Board of over 20 surgeons represents RCS England in Northern Ireland. They reflect the specialty areas of neurosurgery, ENT, paediatrics, general surgery, trauma and orthopaedics, plastics, urology, vascular, cardiothoracic and OMFS. The Board also includes the Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT), QUB & UU Medical School Surgical Society, NIMDTA Head of the School of Surgery, SAS doctors and an RCS England Council member.
3. For more information, please contact the RCS England press office: telephone: 020 7869 6053/6054/6060; email: pressoffice@rcseng.ac.uk. For out-of-hours media enquiries: 0207 869 6056.