Health minister highlights benefits of devolved government

The Stormont Health Minister has praised the work of the health and personal social services in Northern Ireland in breaking down traditional barriers and working together for a more inclusive and healthier society.

The Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety Bairbre de Brún, was speaking at the National Annual Conference of the Institute of Healthcare Management at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast.

Speaking on Wednesday October 10 Ms de Brún said: “The health and personal social services have, particularly over the past few years, been breaking down traditional barriers, and building partnerships across Government, across professions, with the community, cross border and internationally.”

The health minister highlighted partnerships such as the ‘Investing for Health’ process, which represents the Executive’s collective effort to improve the health of our people and cross-border ambulance arrangements to cover major incidents in border areas.

Ms de Brún also emphasised to the conference the right to equality of opportunity embodied in the Good Friday Agreement. She said: “Our commitment to equality of opportunity has now been confirmed in legislation. Without prejudice to these obligations, public authorities are also required to have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations between persons of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group.”

The Minister also pointed out the importance of the new Targeting Social Need (TSN) legislation, which forms part of the executive’s wider agenda for developing a fairer, more just and prosperous society.

Ms de Brún said: “Implementing New TSN requires effort, sustained commitment and a new way of working in which people who are most affected are involved and consulted.”

Ms de Brún concluded: “I believe that the health and social services here have shown the way forward by breaking down barriers, by reaching out to establish partnerships, and by seeking to build a better future for everyone in the community.” (AMcE)