Northern Ireland Health Minister welcomes new Ambulance Service Chief Executive

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt welcomes Jenny Keane as the new Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS).

Ms Keane joins NIAS from NHS England, where she provided leadership in areas such as integration of urgent and emergency care delivery across Ambulance Services, urgent care access, and emergency preparedness.

Minister Nesbitt said: Before welcoming Jenny, I wish to put on record my deepest thanks to Maxine Paterson, who has held the post of NIAS interim Chief Executive since April 2025. Much progress has been achieved under her watch and for that we should all be grateful. I also thank Maxine for agreeing to stay in post until Jenny Keane arrives in the Autumn.

I am delighted to welcome Jenny to the Health and Social Care (HSC) system at a very important time in our Reset journey. Jenny has extensive experience working across the Health Service in England and has an impressive track record in delivering change and leading organisations to improve care for patients.

We all know we cannot deliver health and social care as we currently operate. Change is required and that means everyone, including NIAS, being imaginative and thoughtful in how they perform their essential services. I look forward to working with Jenny on that journey and wish her well in her new post."