The reforms include the establishment of a Regional Health and Social Care Board, a Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-Being, a Patient and Client Council and a Regional Support Services Organisation.
The completion of this stage means that the reforms are on schedule for implementation by April 2009.
Speaking after today’s debate, the Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said: “The proposals in this legislation pave the way for a more cohesive and co-ordinated approach to health and social care and reflect my desire to see a service that is efficient and patient centred, with a renewed focus on improving our overall health and well-being.
“In this, the 60th Anniversary of the NHS, I want to have structures in place that will ensure that we can continue to deliver the high quality services the people here deserve, for many more years. The Health and Social Care (Reform) Bill is a substantial piece of legislation that I believe will create the structure to deliver true reform, in order to do just that.”
Highlighting the impact of the new structures, the Health Minister, outlined a few examples of the key roles of some of the new organisations.
He said, “It is important that our system is responsive to the needs of our population and delivers the services they expect. The five Local Commissioning Groups of the Regional Board will be central in working with local communities to identify and plan services to address their needs. The board will also work on my behalf in the drive for significant improvements in efficiency and performance.
“Improving and protecting our health will also be a key aim of our new system and I have decided that a dedicated agency is the best way to drive this forward. The Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well–being will therefore work closely with local government to bring real improvements on the ground and tackle health inequalities.
“A strong and independent voice to represent the views of patients, clients and carers is vital. A single Patient and Client Council with its five area offices, will ensure that this voice is heard both regionally and locally.”
The minister concluded, “The health and social care system is of immense importance to every person in Northern Ireland. Everyone, at some time or another, will need and use the services and when they do, they expect them to be available, to be easily accessible and to be effective. We also need an enhanced and sustained focus on pubic health if we are to begin to seriously address the major public health challenges that face us. This reform provides us with a unique opportunity to substantially improve not just what we do, but the way we do it.”
Notes to Editors:
1. The full list of reforms is as follows:-
The establishment of
- a single Regional Health and Social Care Board to replace the existing four Health and Social Services Boards that will focus on commissioning, resource management and performance management and improvement;
- a Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being that will incorporate and build on the work of the Health Promotion Agency but will have much wider responsibility for health protection, health improvement and development to address existing health inequalities and public health issues for all the people of Northern Ireland;
- a Regional Support Services Organisation to provide a range of support functions for the whole of health and social care system. The Central Services Agency will be dissolved and the majority of its services will be undertaken by the new organisation;
- a single Patient and Client Council to replace the current Health and Social Services Councils with five local offices operating in the same geographical areas as the existing Trusts, to provide a strong voice for patients, clients and carers;
- a much smaller and more focused Department;
- the NI Regional Medical Physics Agency will be merged with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust; and
- the functions of the Mental Health Commission will transfer to the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority.
2. The NI Practice and Educational Council, NI Medical and Dental Training Agency, NI Guardian Ad Litem Agency, NI Social Care Council and Health Estates Agency will remain unchanged. The Minister is currently giving further consideration to the position of the NI Blood Transfusion Service.
3. The Minister has also decided that the membership of the Local Commissioning Groups is as follows:-
- 4 General Medical Practitioners,
- 1 pharmacist,
- 1 dentist,
- 4 elected local representatives,
- 2 social care professionals,
- 1 nurse,
- 1 public health medicine professional,
- 1 Allied Health Professional, and
- 2 Health & Social Care related voluntary sector representatives.
4. Press enquiries to the DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0575. Out of hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.
