5 June 2025 

SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA has said that bullying is endemic within the North’s health service.

He was speaking after Health Minister Mike Nesbitt confirmed he would introduce special measures on the Belfast Trust after reports of unacceptable behaviour within the Royal Victoria Hospital’s Cardiac Unit.

Mr McGrath said there was ambiguity around the outcome of the Minister’s statement and whether the whole trust was impacted or just the Cardiac Unit.

South Down MLA Mr McGrath said:

“Last year I urged the Health Minister to introduce special measures at the Belfast Trust given the number of high-profile scandals and pressures facing the organisation. While I welcome that the Minister has now responded, it is clear the significant cultural issues within our health service stretch far beyond one trust or one unit.

“Since these allegations emerged, I’ve been contacted by healthcare workers from right across the North, many of whom report similar experiences of bullying, intimidation, and toxic management structures. What’s emerging is a picture of a health service where fear, silence and a lack of accountability are far too common.

“It is deeply disappointing that the Minister chose to issue a written statement on this critical issue instead of facing MLAs in the Assembly Chamber. There are many questions outstanding around the impact of special measures following the Minister’s announcement and this is a pattern of avoiding scrutiny that does nothing to reassure frontline staff.

“I am currently working to support a number of health professionals who feel their complaints have been ignored or buried. We need systems that give workers confidence to speak up and leadership that takes responsibility for fixing what is broken.

“The current situation isn’t delivering the best outcomes for staff or their patients and I will pressing the Minister to tackle these issues in the here and now and not simply wait for the next scandal to emerge.”