SOS Rural Hospitals Northern Ireland Calls Time On NHS Management
0n Monday 26th October 2026, the SOS Rural Hospitals and Farmers For Action campaign groups across Northern Ireland will deliver an “unprecedented message” to the Minister of Health and all other MLAs at Stormont says William Taylor, FFA chairman. Everyone is welcome to attend.
William Taylor said: “We demand the removal of all Northern Ireland’s six health trusts and that there be only one.
“Their management costs are an unnecessary burden on taxpayers.
“It could be argued, the Trusts are implementing the NI Department of Health’s policy of stripping away life-saving acute hospital services from rural communities.
“It has to be noted that the very considerable money used to maintain the management structure of these trusts could be better deployed to NHS frontline services.
“We want a new senior management at the Department of Health who will show they are accountable to the public.
“It is our considered opinion that the Bengoa report is not fit for purpose and should be replaced by a policy that recognises the right of rural communities to timely healthcare.
“We recommend that the NHS in Northern Ireland is managed by one Trust for our hospitals & one management unit for after care. They would be guided by a slimmed-down management structure at the Department of Health that is perceived by the public to be accountable.
The two board bodies as above would be answerable to doctor, nurse, patient, public forums in each hospital & aftercare settings.
“These roles would be unpaid. We need a new health service leadership team in Northern Ireland, prepared to strengthen the NHS so fewer people are not required to incur debt for private health care.
“Rural communities across Northern Ireland want our lifesaving acute services restored and enhanced with staff getting all the support they need.
“Political parties who do not support us are against us and should be held accountable at the May 2027 NI Assembly elections.
“We must move forward with buildings / facilities and a new commonsense more accountable system of health service governance that’s provides the health care the public so urgently needs.”
