Mike Nesbitt: Health officials back minister following resignation

Dr Alan Stout, who chairs the British Medical Association’s (BMA) Northern Ireland Council, said he has “huge respect” for Nesbitt for the “clinically led principles” that he has had on Causeway Hospital, adding that he put “patient safety above politics”.

Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster programme, he said: “It’s always far too easy to play the populism card, to promise what is undeliverable.”

He said politicians who are prepared to stand up and make the difficult decisions are what is needed.

Niall McGonigle, Northern Ireland Director of the Royal College of Surgeons said Nesbitt “worked to address long waiting times for treatment and the significant pressures facing NHS staff and services”.

“It is important that momentum is maintained on plans to improve patient care and strengthen services.”

McGonigle, added that his college “supports the modernisation and transformation of surgical services where this improves outcomes for patients and helps ensure services are sustainable for the future”.

“We would encourage all parties to continue working collaboratively in the interests of patients and to support the stability of the health service,” he added.