10-Year Vision To Transform Health And Social Care System Launched

A new 10-year vision to transform the health and social care system in Northern Ireland has been launched by the Health Minister.

Michelle O'Neill launched the vision entitled, 'Health and Wellbeing 2026: Delivering Together' after considering an Expert Panel's report, led by Professor Rafael Bengoa, 'Systems, Not Structures: Changing Health and Social Care' which sets out the need for change.

Minister O'Neill said: "Across health and social care clinicians and staff are working harder than ever to deliver high quality care and support to patients and carers, but working in a system designed to meet 20th century needs does not work in the 21st century world.

"I want to thank the Expert Panel, led by Professor Rafael Bengoa, for their report, ‘Systems, Not Structures: Changing Health and Social Care’. It set out the need for change, and I have taken time to consider the report’s conclusions as well as the work undertaken through Transforming Your Care and the Donaldson report. I have also spoken to a range of people about what needs to change, including those who use and those who provide services.

"We face a number of challenges, not least demographic changes and considerable health inequalities which continue to persist. The way services are organised is constraining transformation and our ability to provide high quality services.

"We need to support people to keep well in the first place and when they need care and support, services should be safe and of the highest quality. In line with the draft Programme for Government we will move from a focus on action based targets to one based on patient outcomes and co-production of services."

The Minister continued: "My vision also sets out a series of actions I will lead within the next 12 months to start the journey of transformation. I recognise the pressure that our system is under and it is important that we start now. By early next year we will have developed a plan to tackle waiting lists and by spring there will be investment to ensure every GP practice has a named District Nurse, Health Visitor and Social Worker. Further support for looked after children, children for whom the state has taken on parental responsibility will be in place by late 2017.

"I want to see services reconfigured to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients and that will include taking forward the development of stroke services and by the end of next year having proposals in place for the location of elective care centres and assessment and treatment centres."

Professor Rafael Bengoa, Chair of the Expert Panel said:"Health and social care systems across the developed world are currently struggling with the question of how to adapt their services to deal with continuously rising and changing patterns of demand. I and my colleagues on the Panel believe that the HSC system faces a stark choice. It can either resist change and see services deteriorate to the point of collapse over time, or embrace transformation and work to create a modern sustainable service that is properly equipped to help people stay as healthy as possible and to provide them with the right type of care when they need it."

Sinn Féin Health Spokesperson Louise O'Reilly TD welcomed the announcement.

She said: "This Health and Wellbeing report from my party colleague and northern Health Minister Michelle O'Neill sets out the future shape of quality health services in the north and across the island. The publication of this report is welcome, particularly given that in the Oireachtas we have an All Party committee on future healthcare looking at a 10 year vision for the health services.

"We now need a new model of health care, which will deliver for our people, meet the challenges of the 21st century, make the most of key medical advances and address changes in our population, while supporting all our staff.

"I also welcome the fact that this report deals with the need to build upon and develop the current all-Ireland health structures as we plan for the future."

Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has said her party will oppose any delays in the implementation of the Health Minister's plan to reform the health service.

She added it was vital the Minister now follows through with the recommendations.

She said: "The proposals are significant and have expert backing, but often such suggestions draw local or internal opposition when they are actually implemented. That's why a cross-party approach is preferable to the lack of transparency we have seen so far from this Executive. It is essential vital reforms are not yet again held hostage to local populism.

"The Minister needs to provide determined leadership to deliver reform and communications properly across all parties, all departments and all sectors, most importantly with users of the health service themselves."

(CD)