29/07/2025
Senior NI Surgeon Appointed To Lead Waiting List Initiative
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has announced the appointment of Professor Mark Taylor as Northern Ireland's first Regional Clinical Director for Elective Care.
A senior Northern Ireland surgeon with a distinguished record in clinical leadership, Professor Taylor will play a pivotal role in overseeing, leading, and supporting the Department of Health's concentrated drive to significantly reduce hospital waiting lists.
This key appointment reflects a priority outlined in the Programme for Government, with up to £215 million earmarked for elective care initiatives during the current financial year.
Minister Nesbitt expressed his pleasure at the appointment: "I am delighted that Mark has agreed to take on this role with my Department and I am looking forward to working closely with him. There are many vital facets to the ongoing drive for elective care recovery in Northern Ireland – including reform, investment, improved productivity and reducing clinical variance. The overriding goal, of course, has to be to get many more people off waiting lists."
Professor Taylor acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead: "I am honoured to be chosen by the Minister for this vitally important post. Our hospital waiting lists are nothing short of a national shame and I intend to work relentlessly with Department and HSC colleagues to help turn things around. This is a long-term challenge – the Minister has spoken previously about being at the foothills of it. I will be devoting all my energies to it and I know colleagues will be doing the same."
In his new capacity, the Regional Clinical Director for Elective Care will provide overarching specialist clinical leadership and advice to the Minister and Department. This includes guiding the transformation of patient services and ensuring collaboration and the dissemination of best practice across the healthcare system.
In May, the Department published an Elective Care Implementation and Funding Plan (www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/elective-care-framework-restart-recovery-and-redesign), which details a range of initiatives aimed at tackling the backlog in hospital care. The earmarked funding of up to £215m for 2025-26 is categorised into three areas: £85m for red flag and time-critical care; £80m for building up capacity to address the long-standing mismatch with demand; and up to £50m to begin tackling the existing backlog in care.
A senior Northern Ireland surgeon with a distinguished record in clinical leadership, Professor Taylor will play a pivotal role in overseeing, leading, and supporting the Department of Health's concentrated drive to significantly reduce hospital waiting lists.
This key appointment reflects a priority outlined in the Programme for Government, with up to £215 million earmarked for elective care initiatives during the current financial year.
Minister Nesbitt expressed his pleasure at the appointment: "I am delighted that Mark has agreed to take on this role with my Department and I am looking forward to working closely with him. There are many vital facets to the ongoing drive for elective care recovery in Northern Ireland – including reform, investment, improved productivity and reducing clinical variance. The overriding goal, of course, has to be to get many more people off waiting lists."
In his new capacity, the Regional Clinical Director for Elective Care will provide overarching specialist clinical leadership and advice to the Minister and Department. This includes guiding the transformation of patient services and ensuring collaboration and the dissemination of best practice across the healthcare system.
In May, the Department published an Elective Care Implementation and Funding Plan (www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/elective-care-framework-restart-recovery-and-redesign), which details a range of initiatives aimed at tackling the backlog in hospital care. The earmarked funding of up to £215m for 2025-26 is categorised into three areas: £85m for red flag and time-critical care; £80m for building up capacity to address the long-standing mismatch with demand; and up to £50m to begin tackling the existing backlog in care.
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
11 March 2003
Primary care must be strengthened says Browne
The role of primary care has to be strengthened and expanded, NIO Health Minister Des Browne has told delegates at the ‘Primary Care-Moving Forward’ conference in Armagh today.
Primary care must be strengthened says Browne
The role of primary care has to be strengthened and expanded, NIO Health Minister Des Browne has told delegates at the ‘Primary Care-Moving Forward’ conference in Armagh today.
28 April 2011
Waiting Times For A&E Reduced
Waiting times for patients in NI's accident and emergency care facilities have been revealed. The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) has just published statistics on the time spent waiting in emergency care departments within Northern Ireland during the months of January, February and March 2011.
Waiting Times For A&E Reduced
Waiting times for patients in NI's accident and emergency care facilities have been revealed. The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) has just published statistics on the time spent waiting in emergency care departments within Northern Ireland during the months of January, February and March 2011.
15 December 2010
Halloween Fireworks' Injuries Rising
Injuries caused by fireworks in NI over Halloween increased this year, with more casualties reported - with many of the incidents involving children. Figures from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) on Wednesday revealed that almost 50 people reported to an emergency care department with a firework related injury.
Halloween Fireworks' Injuries Rising
Injuries caused by fireworks in NI over Halloween increased this year, with more casualties reported - with many of the incidents involving children. Figures from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) on Wednesday revealed that almost 50 people reported to an emergency care department with a firework related injury.
22 March 2022
£5m Announced For NI's Care Home Sector
A £5 million support package has been announced to help Northern Ireland's care home sector with rising energy costs. Care homes, like the rest of society, have been dealing with sharply rising energy prices. The £5m funding will be allocated by HSC Trusts on the basis of bed numbers per home.
£5m Announced For NI's Care Home Sector
A £5 million support package has been announced to help Northern Ireland's care home sector with rising energy costs. Care homes, like the rest of society, have been dealing with sharply rising energy prices. The £5m funding will be allocated by HSC Trusts on the basis of bed numbers per home.
29 July 2019
Job Prospects For Unemployed With Care Home Training Scheme
A care home group is offering job opportunities for the unemployed in Belfast following completion of a four-week training programme. Macklin Care Homes, which operates six homes in Northern Ireland, has developed a scheme to equip unemployed members of society with recognised qualifications in health and social care skills.
Job Prospects For Unemployed With Care Home Training Scheme
A care home group is offering job opportunities for the unemployed in Belfast following completion of a four-week training programme. Macklin Care Homes, which operates six homes in Northern Ireland, has developed a scheme to equip unemployed members of society with recognised qualifications in health and social care skills.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.