Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has visited Belfast City Hospital to congratulate the Day of Surgery Unit after it was honoured with the October 2025 Elective Care Recognition Award.

The accolade, which is issued by the Elective Care Management Team (ECMT), celebrates innovation and superior standards in patient care within the Health and Social Care system. During his visit, the Minister met with both patients and healthcare professionals to observe the unit's operational pathway and learn about the initiatives being used to streamline communication and patient flow.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt commented: "I am delighted to visit the Day of Surgery Unit at Belfast City Hospital and to personally thank staff for their exceptional work. The compassionate, patient-centred care provided by this team is evident. Staff work collaboratively, go above and beyond to reduce pre-operative delays and waiting times, and consistently uphold high professional standards. The excellent patient feedback for the unit is a testament to the quality of care being delivered. The outcomes achieved here including faster access to surgery, increased capacity and more efficient use of hospital beds are to be warmly commended." The Day of Surgery Unit caters to various surgical specialities, allowing patients to be admitted on the day of their operation. This model reduces the time patients spend in hospital and ensures that inpatient beds remain available for those with more complex needs. In the last three years, the unit has expanded its capacity, now treating more than 4,000 patients every year.

Minister Nesbitt further remarked: "Reducing waiting lists remains one of my central priorities as Health Minister. We are seeing very real progress across Northern Ireland, with targeted efforts helping to reduce some of our longest waits and bring more patients the care they need more quickly. Through the Elective Care Framework and our Reset Plan for waiting lists, we are treating significant numbers of time-critical patients and reducing the longest waiting times, while also increasing planned surgical capacity across the system. This work reflects the commitment and professionalism of staff across the health service, and units like this one show what can be achieved when great teams are supported to innovate and deliver for patients. There is still much work to do, but the progress being made at Belfast City Hospital and across the region shows that improvement is possible. We will continue to build on this momentum to deliver faster, safer and more sustainable care for all."

Jennifer Welsh, Chief Executive of Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, added: "The Day of Surgery Unit is an excellent example of best practice in elective surgery delivery. Under the leadership of Sister Rachel Canning, the team shows how strong clinical leadership and teamwork can drive high standards of care across multiple surgical specialties."

The Elective Care Recognition Award is designed to promote continuous improvement and highlight successful models of care delivery across the region.