Latest news with #JenniferWelsh
Belfast Telegraph
01-08-2025
- Health
- 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.'
Belfast Telegraph
04-07-2025
- Health
- Belfast Telegraph
Belfast Trust appoints new chief executive as health minister says fresh start needed amid ‘crisis'
It confirmed Jennifer Welsh has been appointed to the top job following 'a rigorous recruitment and interview process'. 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'.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Northern Trust recommends cutting emergency surgery from Causeway Hospital
Emergency General Surgery (EGS) is likely to be removed from Causeway Hospital, after the Northern Health Trust recommended providing the service at just one of its hospital Trust's board says its preference is that EGS be located at Antrim Area it is spread between the Antrim Area and Causeway recommendation follows a review and a public consultation. 'Extremely challenging' Senior management said that the duplication of services at both sites has put pressure on the hospitals and that the current system was "not sustainable".They said they were faced with two choices, either a managed planned change to services or a total collapse of those have taken the decision to manage that review included a 14-week long public consultation. According to the Trust, the public who responded were overwhelmingly against the change in services. However, the Trust say they believe the move is Chief Executive Jennifer Welsh described the review process as "extremely challenging".If the proposal is signed off by the Department of Health, plans to consolidate EGS at Antrim Area Hospital will go ahead. What is Emergency General Surgery? EGS looks after patients who require general surgical assessment, diagnosis, or treatment in an unplanned way, often following presentation in the would include emergency procedures like appendicitis or a blocked Causeway site will be used for elective general surgery. This is low complex surgery which can be planned, for example the removal of a is the case now, trauma patients, such as those that have been involved in road traffic accidents, will be transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast for treatment.
The Independent
04-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Integrated lab results system hailed as ‘transformational' for health service
The rollout of a new standardised digital system for medical lab test results in Northern Ireland has been hailed as transformational for clinical care. The 18-month implementation of the CoreLIMS Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) was completed last week. Previously there were seven separate systems for managing test results for different medical disciplines. Health and Social Care (HSC) pathology systems have now been combined into a single region-wide digital solution across the five hospital trusts in Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service (NIBTS). The results of tests conducted by more than 2,000 laboratory staff in Northern Ireland are now uploaded onto the one system. The system is the first of its kind in the UK and Ireland. Using software supplied by Clinisys, the CoreLIMS has already processed almost 130 million results since November 2023. Northern Health Trust chief executive Jennifer Welsh, who leads the Northern Ireland Pathology Information Management System (NIPIMS), said: 'Completing the replacement of the ageing and disparate legacy lab systems across the trusts with one regional standardised system has been the result of years of hard work. 'I would like to acknowledge all the teams and individuals involved, for all the planning, preparation and long hours worked to facilitate this important transition.' NIBTS chief executive Karin Jackson, who is the project lead for the CoreLIMS, added: 'Now that the rollout is complete across Northern Ireland, I am looking forward to seeing how patients and HSCNI will benefit from a significantly updated, improved, and rationalised LIMS. 'Delivering this technically complex programme in a fast-moving environment would not have been possible without the long hours, commitment, and support from colleagues in the trusts, NIBTS, BSO (the health service's Business Services Organisation) and Clinisys teams.' Karen Bailey, the chief executive of the BSO, said the rollout marked a 'milestone' in laboratory digital transformation. 'I want to take this opportunity to pass on my sincerest thanks and appreciation to all BSO colleagues involved in the development and delivery of the CoreLIMS Programme,' she said. 'I would like to further thank the trusts for their support in delivering this key programme that will make a difference to patients across the region.'
BreakingNews.ie
04-05-2025
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Integrated lab results system hailed as ‘transformational' for NI health service
The rollout of a new standardised digital system for medical lab test results in Northern Ireland has been hailed as transformational for clinical care. The 18-month implementation of the CoreLIMS Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) was completed last week. Advertisement Previously there were seven separate systems for managing test results for different medical disciplines. Health and Social Care (HSC) pathology systems have now been combined into a single region-wide digital solution across the five hospital trusts in Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service (NIBTS). The results of tests conducted by more than 2,000 laboratory staff in Northern Ireland are now uploaded onto the one system. The system is the first of its kind in the UK and Ireland. Using software supplied by Clinisys, the CoreLIMS has already processed almost 130 million results since November 2023. Advertisement Northern Health Trust chief executive Jennifer Welsh, who leads the Northern Ireland Pathology Information Management System (NIPIMS), said: 'Completing the replacement of the ageing and disparate legacy lab systems across the trusts with one regional standardised system has been the result of years of hard work. 'I would like to acknowledge all the teams and individuals involved, for all the planning, preparation and long hours worked to facilitate this important transition.' NIBTS chief executive Karin Jackson, who is the project lead for the CoreLIMS, added: 'Now that the rollout is complete across Northern Ireland, I am looking forward to seeing how patients and HSCNI will benefit from a significantly updated, improved, and rationalised LIMS. 'Delivering this technically complex programme in a fast-moving environment would not have been possible without the long hours, commitment, and support from colleagues in the trusts, NIBTS, BSO (the health service's Business Services Organisation) and Clinisys teams.' Advertisement Karen Bailey, the chief executive of the BSO, said the rollout marked a 'milestone' in laboratory digital transformation. 'I want to take this opportunity to pass on my sincerest thanks and appreciation to all BSO colleagues involved in the development and delivery of the CoreLIMS Programme,' she said. 'I would like to further thank the trusts for their support in delivering this key programme that will make a difference to patients across the region.'
