The Minister also launched their new corporate logos. The organisations will be known as the following:
- Health and Social Care Board;
- Public Health Agency;
- Business Services Organisation; and
- Patient and Client Council.
Following Royal Assent of the Reform Bill on 21 January 2009, the organisations remain on schedule to be established on 1 April 2009.
Confirming the working titles, the Minister said: “Confirmation of the names and identities of the new organisations is a major step in their establishment. Their identities follow that of the Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts that were established in April 2007 meaning our new streamlined service will have one single identity, fully underpinning our joined up approach and making us more identifiable as a ‘family’ to the general public.”
The most significant amendment is that of the ‘Public Health Agency’, which was formerly referred to as the ‘Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Wellbeing’.
Explaining the change, the Minister continued: “As the Public Health Agency will work with many different organisations and communities across Northern Ireland, I felt that its name should be as straightforward and as easily identifiable as possible.
“Public health is as much about tackling the social factors that cause ill-health as it is about making healthy choices easier. It is also about detecting disease early through screening programmes, and preventing the spread of infectious diseases through immunisation and other measures.
“If we want a healthier public, we need a new approach. The Public Health Agency will therefore make prevention a higher priority in Northern Ireland and ensure it gets the attention it deserves.”
Notes to Editors:
1. The logos can be viewed on the DHSSPS website.
2. The role of each of the organisations is as follows
- The single Health and Social Care Board for Northern Ireland will replace the existing four Health and Social Services Boards. It will focus on commissioning, resource management and performance management and improvement;
- The Public Health Agency 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;
- The Business Services Organisation will 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;
- The single Patient and Client Council will 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.
3. The HSC brand was designed at the Trust phase of HSC reform by Alan Martin who works as a graphic designer for the Health Promotion Agency.
4. Press enquiries to the DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0575. Outside office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
