16 October 2006
MAJOR HEALTH REFORM WILL DELIVER MORE FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES SAYS GOGGINS
Future health and social care in Northern Ireland will be tailor-made for local communities with local professionals playing a leading role in planning and buying services.
A major step forward in this dramatic change to health and social care as part of the Review of Public Administration has been announced by Health Minister Paul Goggins.
He said: "Local GPs, nurses, pharmacists and other professionals across the health and social care sector will be able to work together to deliver real change for their communities."
"For example, GPs will be able to ensure that patients in need of hospital treatment get it on time and that older people have the right care and support they need when discharged from hospital." the Minister added.
Seven Local Commissioning Groups, mirroring the boundaries of the seven new councils, will be set up to deliver this key reform. They will be the local arms of the new Health and Social Services Authority for Northern Ireland.
The seven groups will include lay members to further boost community representation, knowledge and skills and will work closely with local Councils so that health and social care planning is aligned with wider community planning.
They will also have a duty to take on board comments made by the public and explain why decisions are made and why, in some instances, suggestions have not been accepted.
Commenting on their role, Paul Goggins said: "Within these groups multi-professional teams will have more flexibility and control in order to ensure their patients and clients receive the care they need and to make the best possible use of all available resources."
In order to prepare for the beginning of local commissioning the Minister is setting up a formal joint committee of the four existing Health and Social Services Boards with a chairperson appointed by the Department.
A consultation exercise on the legislation required to establish this joint committee on a statutory basis is underway.
The Minister paid tribute to the valuable and important work carried out by the four Boards and said: "The Joint Committee will be charged with accelerating the moves to a new, improved model of local groups commissioning local services in a way that best fits the needs of Northern Ireland."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. In November 2005, the then Health Minister Shaun Woodward announced the new organisational structures for health and personal social services in Northern Ireland.
2. The public is now being invited to comment on draft proposals for a statutory Joint Committee for Commissioning health and social services.
3. The consultation package on the draft Order may be accessed on the Department's website at: www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/consultations/current_consultations.htm
4. The consultation period will end on 1st December 2006.
5. Media enquiries to Áine Gaughran DHSSPS Press Office 028 9052 0074
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