Panel Appointments Target NI Healthcare

A team of people has been appointed to advise 'and challenge' how health services should be developed across Northern Ireland.

The Stormont Health Minister, Edwin Poots announced in June that experts would look into how health and social care could be changed anticipating that this could lead to fewer hospitals, but an emphasis on 'greater choice in community care'.

The DUP Minister Edwin Poots has therefore appointed the panel, which will provide expert advice and independent assurance on his ongoing Review of Health and Social Care Services in Northern Ireland.

It is understood that he will use the panel's recommendations to decide how hospital's Accident and Emergency (A&E) Departments, GP services and other health care sectors could interconnect.

The Minister has appointed the five external members to provide advice and challenge, drawing on a range of relevant expertise and skills. He has also published detailed Terms of Reference for the Review.

Speaking on Thursday, the Minister said: "It is clear that the full range of health and social care services is unsustainable in its current form if we are to deliver the best outcomes for everyone, and if we are to maintain the highest levels of quality and safety of the services provided.

"It is important therefore that this Review examines the future provision of services including our acute hospital configuration; the development of primary health care services and social care; and the interfaces between the sectors.

"The Review needs to proceed without delay given the seriousness of the situation facing our health services. However, it must also be evidence-based with robust analyses and conclusions on future service delivery.

"I have decided therefore to appoint this panel of expert advisers to provide independent assurance to the Review team and myself. The Review will benefit immensely from the experience and knowledge of external members, including backgrounds in health policy and health care, business and academia," he said.

The panel members will be Professor Chris Ham (Chief Executive of the King's Fund), Professor Deirdre Heenan (Provost and Dean of Academic Development at the Magee Campus, University of Ulster), Dr Ian Rutter (General Practitioner), Paul Simpson (retired senior civil servant) and Mark Ennis (Executive Chair of SSE Ireland).

The Review, announced in June, is being led by John Compton, Chief Executive of the Health and Social Care Board.

The Minister said the five advisors would bring a wealth of knowledge and skills to this important exercise. He said he wished them well in the tasks ahead and looked forward to the outcome of their efforts in due course.

The Minister also commented on engagement with stakeholders during the course of the Review.

He said: "John Compton and his team will be undertaking appropriate consultation and engagement with key stakeholders in the coming weeks.

"It is important that there are opportunities for effective consultation with the public. I would encourage anyone who feels they have a contribution to make, or who wish their voice to be heard, to provide comments."

The Minister has asked the Review Team to report to him by the end of November: "I have set a challenging timescale for the completion of this Review because it is important that clarity is provided urgently on the future direction of health and social care services here.

"Our system cannot continue to operate as it has done: there are simply not the resources to do so; and action will be required to ensure we provide safe and effective services to the people here for the future."

Commenting on the appointments, Dr Paul Darragh, Chairman of the British Medical Association (BMA's) Council in Northern Ireland said: "We welcome that the team has been announced and that the review can now begin.

"BMA(NI) hopes that there will be sincere and meaningful engagement with health professionals, although we are concerned about the short timescale.

"Therefore we will be seeking clarification as to how the consultation process will be carried out," he said.

"We believe that doctors and their colleagues, working on the front line of health care, are best placed to give the realities of the situation and know what needs to change to improve outcomes for patients."

(BMcC/KMcA)