Health News 10 July 2024
It’s always worth a look when a departmental press release comes out on the cusp of a holiday. This afternoon’s surprise was from the Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt MLA, releasing a written statement on his department’s planned initiatives. There’s A LOT to cover, so here’s a quick summary. Deep breath…
Bengoa’s Back
The first headline grabber is the news that Professor Rafael Bengoa of the eponymous and oft-referred-to “Bengoa Report”, will return to Northern Ireland in the Autumn. Professor Bengoa first reported his recommendations for reform and transformation of the Northern Ireland health service in 2016. He will return for a conference and a series of engagements around these same topics. The Minister states his intention to “reboot the public conversation around health reform.”
Welcoming this news, Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAlister MLA said, “I hope that this visit from Professor Bengoa will refocus the minds of those who have been unable to make difficult decisions required for the necessary transformation of our health service, and increase the urgency of reform.”
Summer Consultation on Hospital Reconfiguration
The Minister has also announced today that he is planning to publish a proposal for hospital reconfiguration for consultation over the summer. The Minister states clearly, “while every existing hospital has a key role to play, every hospital cannot provide every service.” Minister Nesbitt knows he won’t be able to please all the people all the time and he’s up front in acknowledging it.
Three Year Strategic Plan for Health and Social Care
The Minister has stated that he will issue a Strategic Plan for Health and Social Care the remaining mandate of the current Assembly. It will cover three themes: Stabilisation, Reform and Delivery. He notes that, given budget constraints, Stabilisation will be the dominant theme.
Primary Care and Social Care as Priorities
The Health Minister stated that prioritising primary care and social care are “front and centre” in the department’s priorities. He recognises that “it is vitally important in its own right to help our citizens live healthy and independent lives in the community” and notes the additional benefit of “easing pressure on our beleaguered acute hospital sector”.
Reform of Adult Social Care - news next week
It will come as welcome news to the sector that there is imminent news on this. The Minister has announced that a Delivery Plan for the Social Care Collaborative Forum will be published next week. He stated that the Forum is working collaboratively to implement proposals arising out of the consultation on the Reform of Adult Social Care and said key themes for the Delivery Plan will focus on: Building a Sustainable Workforce; Improving Commissioning and Contracting Arrangements; and Developing Improved Partnership Working.
Children’s Social Care Services
Today’s Ministerial Statement coincides with the publication of responses to the public consultation on the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care Services. The Health Minister said he is planning to publish his response to the Review’s recommendations in Autumn.
Minister for Children and Families
Also of note, the Minister stated he will be looking at cross-cutting recommendations involving other Departments, including recommendations on the possible appointment of a Minister for Children and Families, the establishment of a Children and Families Arm’s Length Body and the expansion of the Sure Start programme and the Gillen Review of Civil and Family Justice.
Tackling Inequalities – Public Health Prevention
Throughout his statement, the Minister reiterates his now-familiar theme of health inequalities. He announced the first phase of a “Live Better” initiative, designed to bring targeted health support to communities which need it most. This will build on work by the PHA and others, covering areas such as increasing uptake in health screening and vaccination, mental health support, blood pressure and cholesterol checks, nutrition and physical activity.
In the week when the Minister also announced that the core grant to voluntary organisations is to remain at the 50% level provided in 2023-24, it is of note that his statement says “my intention is that the community and voluntary sector will be a key, and equal partner in delivering and supporting this programme.”
The long weekend ahead will need to be restful: it looks like July and August are going to be action-packed in the Department of Health.
The Health Minister’s statement can be read in full here *doh-wms-Department of Health planned initiatives-july-2024.pdf (health-ni.gov.uk)
ENDS
By Vicki Caddy, PR Director, Head of Healthcare Communications
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt MLA meeting health service staff