29 June 2026

SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA has said the Executive are presiding over the collapse of the health service.

He was speaking after challenging Health Minister Mike Nesbitt during Health questions in the Assembly on Monday.

His comments come as resident doctors take industrial action and warn about the impact of the Executive's failure to address long-standing concerns around pay and workforce pressures.

South Down MLA Colin McGrath said:

“Whatever spin the Executive and Health Minister want to put on it, our health service remains in dire straits. While there has been some progress in a small number of areas, it has made little difference to the experience of patients, many of whom are still waiting far too long to access the care they need.

“We are once again seeing doctors forced into industrial action, waiting lists remain unacceptably high and there are serious concerns about the future of the NHS. Unless staff feel valued, we will continue to lose experienced healthcare professionals to the South, Britain and further afield. We are already struggling to recruit and retain the workforce we need and that will only place greater pressure on services in the years ahead.

“The Executive and Health Minister need to wake up to the scale of this crisis. We have seen little meaningful transformation and repeated attempts to paper over the cracks have failed. Instead of reforming our health service, this Executive is simply managing its decline while patients, staff and families continue to pay the price.”