Jon Burrows calls for meaningful reform as health minister resigns

Jon Burrows has called for meaningful reform across Northern Ireland’s health service following the resignation of Health Minister Mike Nesbitt on Tuesday. The departure followed a political fallout over the proposed withdrawal of emergency general surgery from Causeway Hospital in Coleraine, located in Co Derry and Co Londonderry. The dispute intensified after Burrows voiced opposition to the health trust bosses' recommended plan during a public town hall meeting.

In his resignation letter, which was shared on X and dated August 18th, Nesbitt criticized Burrows for introducing a second red line regarding the Causeway Hospital decision. Nesbitt stated that when Burrows assumed the leadership, he had established only one initial red line concerning puberty blockers and opposition to Northern Ireland participating in the Pathways trial. Nesbitt expressed frustration that he had learned of his party leader's stance on the Causeway Hospital issue through the media rather than through internal consultation.

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"When you became leader, you informed me, with your hallmark clarity, that when it came to health, you had but one ‘red line’, namely puberty blockers and your opposition to Northern Ireland participating in the Pathways trial,"

Mike Nesbitt, former health minister, via Irish Times

Nesbitt also noted in his letter that bringing Burrows into Stormont by agreeing to co-opt him as a North Antrim MLA following Robin Swann's election to Westminster ultimately facilitated Burrows's campaign to take over the party leadership. Nesbitt previously served twice as UUP leader, from 2013 to 2017 and from 2024 until earlier this year when Burrows was appointed, and had held the health minister post since 2024 following a high-profile broadcasting career and service as commissioner for victims and survivors.

Responding to the resignation in a statement on Wednesday, Burrows thanked Nesbitt for his service and acknowledged the difficulty of the ministerial brief.

"He took on arguably the hardest job in government and approached it with seriousness, integrity and a determination to improve our health service,"

Jon Burrows, Ulster Unionist leader, via Irish Times

Burrows argued that how reform is delivered is vital, suggesting that communities impacted by proposed changes have not been adequately consulted. He emphasized that reform must address regional imbalance and health inequalities, taking into account workforce pressures, recruitment and retention, ambulance and travel times, sustainability, and patient outcomes.

"Reform must also address health inequalities and regional imbalance, and recognise that people in different parts of Northern Ireland do not currently enjoy equal access to timely healthcare,"

Jon Burrows, Ulster Unionist leader, via AOL

"Clinical evidence must be central to decision making, but reform cannot simply be done to communities. There must be genuine engagement with the clinicians and staff delivering services and with the people who depend on them,"

Jon Burrows, Ulster Unionist leader, via AOL

Executive colleagues and government officials responded to the sudden departure with praise for Nesbitt's tenure. First Minister Michelle O’Neill stated she was genuinely sorry to see Nesbitt resign, noting that he had played a constructive role in the Executive and made welcome progress in reducing waiting lists. Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly thanked Nesbitt for positive engagement on health waiting lists and stressed that whoever steps in must continue this important work of transformation. Secretary of State Sir Chris Bryant also thanked Nesbitt for his service and emphasized the importance of uninterrupted progress for patients across Northern Ireland.

Burrows stated that he will discuss the health brief with party colleagues over the coming days and expects to confirm a nomination soon, insisting that the immediate priority remains putting patients first and that ongoing work on waiting lists, GP access, A&E wait times, diagnostics, and treatments will not be interrupted.