Belfast Trust appoints new chief executive as health minister says fresh start needed amid ‘crisis'
The current CEO of the Northern Trust, who has previously worked as a director within the Belfast Trust, will take up the post in October.
'Jennifer has many years' experience within the NI health and social care service, specifically in strategy, operations, performance and capital development as well as a strong track record on safety, quality and governance,' a Belfast Trust spokesperson said.
'I am delighted to be in a position to welcome Jennifer Welsh as our new Chief Executive, I believe she brings exceptional strong leadership, experience and a clear commitment to continue driving improvement and delivering excellent care for our patients and service users.
'Her exceptional leadership qualities, vision and commitment will enable our staff to ensure we continue to deliver safe, compassionate and effective care for everyone who depends on us.
'On behalf of Belfast Trust's Board I look forward to working with Jennifer as we navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.'
Ms Welsh has led the Northern Trust since April 2020.
She will replace interim chief executive Maureen Edwards who assumed the role on in September last year two months after Dr Cathy Jack stepped down.
The appointment comes after the chairman of the Belfast Trust, Ciaran Mulgrew, was sacked by the health minister.
The Department of Health said Mike Nesbitt decided on a change of leadership at the trust as he believes a fresh start is required.
Mr Mulgrew left his role on Friday with Mr Nesbitt and the department thanking him for his contribution to the trust and the wider health and social care system.
Watch: Bryson and McKay found not guilty in Nama Trial
The department said the process for filling the chair's post is being initiated as a priority.
In a statement, Belfast Trust's interim chief extended "sincere thanks to Ciaran for his unwavering support, contribution and commitment during his time as trust chairman".
Ms Edwards said Mr Mulgrew had helped the trust through some challenging times since his appointment.
"In particular, he has shown courage and leadership over the last few months in bringing focus and committing to addressing issues around culture and behaviours in our organisation," she added.
"Ciaran always acknowledges the fantastic work of staff in Belfast Trust and is proud of their many achievements. He is leaving the organisation with our gratitude and best wishes for the future.
"I wish to reassure our staff and the public that we will continue to make tangible improvements across the organisation to benefit staff, patients and service users."
However DUP MLA Diane Dodds, the party's health spokesperson, said his departure is a "testament to the sheer scale of crisis within the Belfast Trust".
"There have been a series of scandals over recent months and this reflects that. However, it should be remembered that many of these issues predated the current chair's tenure," she said.
"There is a wider systemic problem within the Belfast Trust that will not be resolved by simply removing one individual.
"However, we will need to hear more detail about what exactly has prompted this decision at this time."
Meanwhile Sinn Féin's health spokesperson Philip McGuigan said the "simple reality is that too often over the last period of time", the trust has "been in the media for all the wrong reasons".
"We have had a raft of negative media stories over the recent and medium term with regard to the Belfast Trust," he added.
"The decision taken yesterday was a decision for the minister, so it is really up to him to explain the rationale behind that.'
Mr McGuigan said that the focus must now be on 'stabilising the trust' to ensure a 'fresh start'.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
5 days ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Complaints to NI health trusts grow by 75% over five-year period, report reveals
The number of grievances submitted to Health and Social Care Trusts jumped from 5,005 in 2020/21 to 8,805 in 2024/25. The details are outlined alongside statistics published today by the Department of Health which reveal that all six trusts have experienced a rise in the number of complaints. It also includes information on complaints against Family Practitioner Services in NI for the year ending March 31, 2025, broken down by the programme of care (POC), category, subject and specialty of the issue raised. Over a quarter (2,406) of complaints involved the Belfast Trust, with 2,178 complaints made to the South Eastern Trust and another 1,634 to the Western Trust. A total of 1,180 issues were reported to the Southern Trust, while the Northern Trust received 1,092 complaints. The NI Air Ambulance received 315 complaints, while 745 grievances related to general medicine and another 550 pertained to children and young people services. The highest percentage of complaint issues (14.1%) received in 2024/25 related to the 'accident and emergency' specialty (1,243). Over half (4,718) of all complaints received during 2024/25 fell under the bracket of 'acute POC' issues, accounting for one in seven of all grievances against the Belfast Trust. The number of complaints about acute care has rose from 2,695 in 2020/21 to 4,718 last year. Complaint issues relating to Family Practitioner Services increased from 173 in 2020/21 to 272 in 2024/25. The median age of the patient or client raising complaints was 46 years. The statistics reveal that 59% of complainants were female and 41% were male. Health trusts issued substantive responses to more than two-fifths (2,455) of complaints within 20 working days. On a more positive note, the health trusts received 42,312 compliments in the same 12-month period. Just over 49% of them related to 'quality of treatment and care', with just over 25% pertaining to 'staff attitude and behaviour'. Almost 11% were from people impressed by the 'information and communication' within the health service. Nearly 3% related to the 'environment' and almost 12% fell under the bracket of 'other' subjects. It comes a month after the Belfast Trust appointed Jennifer Welsh as its new chief executive following the sacking of its chairman, Ciaran Mulgrew, by the Health Minister. Mike Nesbitt decided that a change of leadership was needed in order to mark a fresh start for the trust following a series of scandals. Health was marked as a priority in Stormont's Programme for Government due to NI having 'the longest hospital waiting times in the UK, with people struggling to get the treatment they need'. 'In recent years, pressure has increased due to both a rise in demand but also the impact of the pandemic on the Health and Social Care system,' it states. 'These have combined, adding to the backlog of patients awaiting care.'
Daily Mirror
24-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
DWP issues update as 630,000 households owed up to £12,000 after PIP error
PIP is a benefit that is awarded to people who may need extra help with day-to-day activities due to an illness, disability or mental health condition Personal Independence Payment (PIP) benefit claimants could still be owed cash from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) following a major payment error. PIP is a benefit that is awarded to people who may need extra help with day-to-day activities due to an illness, disability or mental health condition. It comes in two parts - the daily living rate, and the mobility rate - and you can be entitled to both or just one of these, depending on how your condition affects your life. Most people must undertake a health assessment where a point system is used to determine how much PIP you are eligible for. However, a Supreme Court ruling in July 2019 - known as the MM judgement - changed the way the DWP defines "social support" in relation to one of the daily living questions. Following the ruling, the DWP had to change how it assesses the need for social support when engaging with other people face to face, as part of the PIP assessment. It means hundreds of thousands of PIP claimants were due additional points for this activity. The DWP launched an administrative exercise back in 2021 - but in a new update, it has been revealed that hundreds of thousands of cases still need to be reviewed. An estimated 633,338 households receiving PIP are thought to have been affected. Of this figure, the DWP has reviewed 527,745 cases and paid out £250million. This means there are still 105,593 cases waiting to be reviewed. The average payout is £5,285 each - however, some payments will be higher, and some lower. One claimant was entitled to a £12,000 back payment. There are other PIP errors also being corrected by the DWP. This includes PIP claimants who did not have their claim processed because they didn't have a National Insurance – despite an NI number not being needed for a claim. Some 455 cases of this were reviewed in the last year with £500,000 paid out. The DWP has also paid out £13million to Scottish PIP claimants who mistakenly saw a "loss of entitlement" when they tried moving over to the Adult Disability Payment (ADP). Almost 4,700 records of this have been reviewed, with another 176 cases still to be looked at. The daily living rate of PIP is worth £73.90 a week if you're awarded the lower rate, or £110.40 a week for the higher rate. The mobility rate is worth £29.20 a week for the lower rate, or £77.05 a week for the higher rate. PIP is paid every four weeks, so if you're awarded the maximum rates for both the daily living and mobility elements, then you would get £749.80 every four weeks.
BBC News
10-07-2025
- BBC News
Ex-Belfast Trust chairman says he was 'scapegoated' over sacking
The former chair of the Belfast Trust, Ciaran Mulgrew has said he believes he was sacked because he was being used as a "scapegoat" by the health minister. Mike Nesbitt sacked Mr Mulgrew in July, saying he believed a fresh start was required at the Mr Mulgrew said the Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health, Mike Farrar, told him that he "did not support the Minister's decision" to sack him, that he "advised against it and regarded it as a political decision made by the Minister who was uncomfortable answering questions before the Health Committee".The health minister said he had "no wish to engage in a war of words with Mr Mulgrew but he made a "number of assertions which I do not recognise as fact". Mr Mulgrew said in a statement: "I am quite happy to be judged on the things that I have done, but I will not allow unfairness or inequity to go unchallenged and no one, including me, should be kicked around for political convenience or be scapegoated by anyone".He said working at the trust had been a "tremendous honour".He said the Belfast Trust was no exception to any "large complex organisation," which will have difficulties."I believe that anyone in a position of leadership has a responsibility to do something to address problems when they are identified," he added."I never avoided any problems in the Belfast Trust and worked to address every issue that arose. At all times I kept the Department of Health fully informed on each issue, and I was open and transparent with all staff."Mr Mulgrew was appointed as chair of the Belfast Trust in April 2023. The Belfast Trust has faced a number of issues over the past decade including building delays, overspends, and repairs and more recently the cultural issues in the Royal Victoria Hospital's cardiac surgery unit - issues which resulted in extra oversight measures being put in place at the Trust. Mr Nesbitt reiterated, in a statement that he had publicly thanked Mr Mulgrew for his said the Belfast Trust was a "complex and challenging organisation to manage"."As Health Minister, I need to have confidence in those in charge of the organisation," he said."It is also the case that events can conspire against individuals, however well-intentioned, and can make their position untenable," he serious consideration, reflecting on the seriousness of current problems, I reached the conclusion that a new start is needed at the Trust with a new chair as well as the new chief executive. I believe that is in the best interests of the organisation, its staff and all those who rely on its services. At the time of Mr Mulgrew's sacking Diane Dodds, the Democratic Unionist Party's (DUP) health spokesperson, said the departure of Mr Mulgrew was a "testament to the sheer scale of crisis within the Belfast Trust"."There have been a series of scandals over recent months and this reflects that. However, it should be remembered that many of these issues predated the current chair's tenure," Dodds added: "There is a wider systemic problem within the Belfast Trust that will not be resolved by simply removing one individual.
