Trust Board meetings
Ordinary public meetings of the Trust Board are held at regular intervals throughout the year.
In addition, Board members may also hold workshops to allow for detailed discussion on a range of strategic matters.
Notice of meetings
The date, time and venue of Trust Board meetings are published on our website and social media.
Members of the public are welcome to attend. Attendance is usually in person, however, we can consider requests for alternative arrangements, such as online attendance.
All requests should be sent to the Business Support Manager at:
Northern Trust Headquarters
Bretten Hall
Antrim Area Hospital
Bush Road
Antrim
BT41 2RL
Telephone: 028 9442 4327
Email: karen.okane@northerntrust.hscni.net
Dates of Trust Board meetings
Thursday 22 January 2026 – meeting
Thursday 26 February 2026 – workshop
Thursday 26 March 2026 – meeting
Thursday 23 April 2026 – workshop
Thursday 28 May 2026 – meeting
Thursday 25 June 2026 – meeting
Thursday 27 August 2026 – meeting
Thursday 24 September 2026 – meeting
Thursday 22 October 2026 – meeting
Thursday 26 November 2026 – meeting
Thursday 17 December 2026 – workshop
Thursday 28 January 2027 – meeting
Thursday 25 February 2027 – workshop
Thursday 25 March 2027 – meeting
Trust Board agendas and supporting papers
The final Trust Board agenda and supporting papers (where possible) will be published one week before the meeting.
Minutes
The minutes of the proceedings of a meeting are drawn up and submitted for agreement at the next ensuing meeting, where they are agreed by Board members, and are published on our website.
Speaking rights
Individuals or groups may request the opportunity to address the Board on a specific topic that is included on the agenda for the day of the meeting. All such requests must be made in writing, or through email, to the Business Support Manager, at least five working days before the proposed meeting, and the presentation/speaking notes must be submitted at least three days before the meeting.
The Chair will decide on the appropriateness of the presentation.
Any deputation will be confined to a presentation by not more than two persons and will not exceed 10 minutes duration.
The Chair will decide if a Trust response is appropriate and there will be no right of reply by the speaker.
The Chair may at their discretion waive the specified notice period and vary the number of individuals permitted to address the Board. They may also use their discretion to restrict the number of presentations permitted at a meeting.
Public questions
The Trust will consider requests for questions from the public at Trust Board meetings, based on the following conditions:
- All questions must be relevant to an item included on the agenda;
- All questions are submitted in writing, or by email, at least three days before the date of the meeting;
- Individuals will be restricted to a maximum of two questions each;
- Once a question is answered by a member of Trust Board, as directed by the Chair, there will be no further discussions on this question; and,
- The decision of the Chair will be final in relation to public questions.
Further details are available in our Standing orders and scheme of reservation and delegation.
Reserved business
Trust Board meetings are held in public to openly demonstrate how decisions within the Trust are made and recorded. On occasion, there may be issues which the Board requires to discuss in private and in this case a ‘reserved’ meeting may be convened with a separate agenda which is not made public. These may include subjects that include: personal information, or commercially sensitive, or information intended for publication on a later date.
Where a meeting or part of a meeting is dealing with a potentially sensitive or confidential issue, the Chair of the meeting will inform those present that the item under consideration is confidential and a reserved section is required. Representatives of the public, and other members of the public, will be required to withdraw from the remainder of this meeting due to the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.
Voting
The Trust’s Standing orders provide an explanation of the voting members and the process for this. Voting members are distinguished in the meeting by having a different coloured name plate. In the event that a vote is required on a matter at Trust Board, the Chair will outline the process and invite only those eligible executive and non-executive directors to vote.
Every question put to a vote at a meeting is determined by a majority of the votes of members present and voting on the question.
In the case of an equal vote, the person presiding (i.e. the Chair) will have a second and casting vote.
At the discretion of the Chair, all questions put to the vote are determined by oral expression or by a show of hands, unless the Chair directs otherwise, or it is proposed, seconded and carried that a vote be taken by paper ballot.
No decisions are taken at a meeting unless at least half of the whole number of members appointed are present, including at least two non-executive director members and two executive director members.
Involvement and engagement
The Trust recognises the importance of engagement with stakeholders and may arrange meetings, on request, between appropriate Trust officers and interested groups to consult or engage on topics which are being considered. These meetings will be held separate to a formal Trust Board meeting.
In addition, we have an Involvement Network made up of over 300 service users, carers and representative organisations who work in partnership with the Trust to develop health and social care services. The network is a key resource to help shape and design services, and contribute to the development of service information.
Our focus groups, user panels, forums, consultations, and patient surveys, also provide an opportunity for you to get involved and share give your views or opinions about services, or help us to plan and develop our services.
For more information, please contact our Involvement Team.
Contact information
- Telephone: 028 2766 1453
- Email: InvolvingYou@northerntrust.hscni.net
- Route Site, 8e Coleraine Road, Ballymoney BT53 6BP
There is also a regional health and social care website called Engage, for those with an interest in involvement and engagement, including, health and social care staff, service users, carers and the public, with information, opportunities and resources on Personal and Public Involvement (PPI), co-production and partnership working.
