Health bodies have paid tribute to outgoing minister Mike Nesbitt, hailing him as “constructive” and someone who had “listened to clinical leaders”.

Mr Nesbitt announced his resignation on Tuesday night amid a row with UUP leader Jon Burrows concerning the proposed withdrawal of emergency general surgery from Causeway Hospital in Coleraine, Co Londonderry.

Mr Burrows said the new minister will be announced on Thursday.

The chairwoman of the NI Confederation for Health and Social Care, Roisin Coulter, said Mr Nesbitt “offered strong political leadership” and “listened to clinical leaders”, adding: “We owe him a sincere debt of gratitude.”

She urged the next minister to continue a commitment to the reset plan.

“The momentum behind the Department of Health’s reset plan, which is overwhelmingly supported by our members, must not stop,” she said.

“The reset plan focuses on prevention, moving services out of acute hospitals and closer to local communities, whole-system working, digital transformation, efficiency, and innovation.”

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

“As health and care services continue to experience significant demand, it is important that momentum is maintained on plans to improve patient care and strengthen services,” he said.

“Patients and healthcare professionals need continued focus on delivering improvements to care rather than uncertainty or delay.

“The Royal College of Surgeons supports the modernisation and transformation of surgical services where this improves outcomes for patients and helps ensure services are sustainable for the future.”

Professor Rita Devlin, executive director of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in Northern Ireland, said Mr Nesbitt’s resignation comes at a “particularly challenging time” for the health service.

“Over recent months, progress has been made in a number of important areas and it is vital that this momentum is not lost,” she said.

She called for a focus on delivering transformation.

“The RCN has had a constructive and transparent working relationship with the minister and we thank him for his engagement with the nursing profession during his time in office,” she said.

“It is crucial that his successor ensures progress continues on the issues that matter most to patients and nursing staff.

“A key priority remains the implementation of the promised pay award for nursing staff. Delivering this commitment is essential to recognising the value of the workforce, supporting recruitment and retention and helping to ensure safe, high-quality care for patients.

“We will pursue this with the next health minister as a matter of urgency.”