Goggins Announces The Five New Health And Social Services Trust Boundaries And The New Chairpersons Of The Trusts

20 June 2006
GOGGINS ANNOUNCES THE FIVE NEW HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES TRUST BOUNDARIES AND THE NEW CHAIRPERSONS OF THE TRUSTS
The boundaries and the chairpersons of the five new health and social service Trusts have been announced by Health Minister, Paul Goggins, MP. Legislation has also been approved for the establishment of the Trusts in shadow form by August 2006.
While the new Trusts will become fully operational by April 2007, the appointment of the chairpersons to lead the new Trusts means that the new organisations will begin to take shape from August 2006.
The Minister said: "This is a significant day for the Health and Social Services and a big step forward for us as we continue our work on the reform programme. The five new chairpersons have an important role to play in shaping and leading the new Trusts and ensuring that they are putting patients, clients and carers first."
In line with the views of most of those who responded to the consultation the Minister has ensured that the new Trusts will not result in the break up of existing teams. In particular, as a result of the consultation process, the Minister has now decided that Muckamore Hospital, which provides services for people with a learning disability, should be placed in the new Belfast Trust. Muckamore is currently managed by North and West Belfast Trust and at the beginning of the consultation it had been proposed that it would become part of the Northern Area Trust. This was strongly contested by patients, staff and families.
Paul Goggins said: "Having carefully considered the responses received in the consultation process I have decided that existing health and care teams should remain intact as we establish the new Trusts. There were of course varying views expressed in the consultation. But on the whole, having listened to the views of patients, families and staff it is clear that people value the teams which deliver our services and that where possible they do not want to see these teams broken up.
"As a result I have decided that Down and Lisburn Trust will be incorporated into the new South Eastern Area Trust and South and East Belfast Trust will become part of the new Belfast Area Trust which will also include Muckamore Hospital.
"But this doesn't mean that networks should only exist within Trusts. If the new arrangements are to deliver quality care which genuinely responds to the needs of patients and clients we will need care networks which cross all of the new Trust boundaries. Again, I have listened to the concerns of those who wanted to see more networks between hospitals and community-based services. I will expect the new Trusts to actively develop these networks as an early action.
"My prime objective is to put patients, clients and carers first in the health and care system here. This is a major step towards achieving that aim. The creation of five new Trusts and the announcement of five new chairpersons will result in clearer lines of accountability, supporting an unprecedented focus on delivery and a massive cut in bureaucracy which will save millions of pounds - money which will be re-invested in front-line health and social services."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. NEW TRUST GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES

The Western Area Trust - amalgamating the current Sperrin Lakeland, Foyle and Altnagelvin HSS Trusts. This would include the current local government districts of Derry, Fermanagh, Limavady, Omagh and Strabane;

The Northern Area Trust - amalgamating the current Homefirst Community, Causeway and United Hospitals HSS Trusts. This would include the current local government districts of Antrim, Ballymoney, Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Coleraine, Cookstown, Larne, Magherafelt, Moyle and Newtownabbey.;

The Southern Area Trust - amalgamating the current Craigavon Area Hospital Group, Craigavon and Banbridge Community, Newry and Mourne and Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trusts. This would include the current local government districts of Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Dungannon and Newry and Mourne;

The Belfast Area Trust - amalgamating the current Belfast City Hospital, Royal Group of Hospitals, Mater Infirmorum, Greenpark, North and West Belfast (including Muckamore Hospital) and South and East Belfast HSS Trusts. This would include the current local government districts of Belfast and Castlereagh. (In developing the new management and governance structures for the new Belfast Area Trust, consideration will be given to the special status of the Mater Hospital, as stipulated in its 1972 Deed of Arrangement);

The South Eastern Area Trust - amalgamating the current Ulster Community and Hospitals, and Down Lisburn HSS Trusts. This will include the current local government districts of Ards, North Down, Down, and Lisburn.

2. All responses to the consultation can be viewed on the DHSSPS website:
www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/hss/reviewpublicadmin/rpa-responses.htm
Media enquiries to Áine Gaughran 028 9052 0680.

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