Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA has welcomed the Department of Health's publication of the Being Open Framework, yet cautioned that it must be followed by a legally enforceable statutory duty of candour to truly transform Northern Ireland's health service.

The new framework, which is scheduled for implementation on 1 April 2026, aims to foster a culture of transparency and accountability across Health and Social Care (HSC) bodies. It follows years of public inquiries.

Ms McAllister said: "Openness and transparency are absolutely vital qualities within our health service, and are central to the experience of both patients and staff alike. "The Being Open Framework is welcome progress, however history has shown that cultural change alone is not enough, and that it must come alongside legislative change in the form of a statutory duty of candour, as Alliance has been calling for some time now.

"Successive reviews and inquiries have recommended it and outlined the need for one, such as that looking into the Hillsborough disaster and the hyponatremia scandal, as well as evidence found in the investigation into Muckamore.

"The Department of Health and the Minister have been slow in progressing legislation and, whilst it is important that Northern Ireland is included in any UK legislation, the case for local change has been there for a long time. Ensuring openness and transparency are upheld right across the health service is so important, and doing so will require a cultural shift, driven by legislative change in the Executive."