TWENTY-FOUR hours after the resignation of DUP health minster Simon Hamilton, officials in Castle buildings have insisted that "normal work will continue".
However, the response provoked anger from a nursing leader last night, who said Department of Health officials were treating the public with "comtempt" by refusing to elaborate on how the health service will be run or who will take charge.
It has also raised questions about the 'function of a minister'.
Janice Smyth, director of the Royal College of Nursing, said the lack of detail from the Department - which receives the lion's share of the Executive budget - "spoke volumes" about its inability to deliver.
Department chiefs last refused to elaborate on a key plan that maps out how health services will be run and funded each year.
The 2015/16 'commissiong plan' - an unedited version was leaked to the Irish News earlier this year - should have been published at the beginning of this financial year but is now six months overdue as it must be approved and signed-off by Simon Hamilton.
The disarray comes at a time when the north's hospital waiting lists are among the worst in Europe and NHS staff sickness levels are spiralling.
The Irish News yesterday asked if the permanent secretary at the Department of Health, Richard Pengelly would comment directly on the status of the commissioning plan.
A Department spokeswoman replied: "the Department is still considering the Commissioning Plan."
Ms Smyth described the response as "shocking" and said officials needed to act.
"Significant decisions that should have been taken have still not been delivered up until now," she said.
"We have no commissioning plan, a budget has not been agreed, we have no workforce plan for nursing and midwifery and we are the only region in the UK where a pay agreement has not been agreed - apart from a settlement for doctors and dentists.
"Our health service is on the brink and people have a right to know who is running it. We’ve got little enough done with the current administration but this statement reflects absolute contempt for citizens."
