Jim Wells is new Health Minister

Jim Wells is new Health Minister

24 September 2014

SOUTH Down MLA, Jim Wells, was last night named as the Province’s new Health Minister.

Mr. Wells was elevated to the post after First Minister and DUP leader, Peter Robinson, reshuffled his team of Executive Ministers.

The veteran South Down politician replaces the beleaguered Edwin Poots who has been under pressure in recent months over his department’s budget.

Mr. Wells said the role of Health Minister was the “most challenging position in the Executive.”

He paid tribute to Mr. Poots saying he had “big boots to fill.”

Mr Wells said health budgets would be his "number one priority". 

The new minister faces some major challenges in the Executive’s biggest spending department, not least getting to grips with a funding shortfall which severely exercised his predecessor.