Government's 20-year 'vision' for healthcare unveiled

The government’s strategy for dealing with healthcare provision in Northern Ireland over the next 20 years has been published today.

The consultation document contains the "vision" for the health and personal social services and will establish priorities for future investment.

One of the key planks to the strategy is the extent to which members of the public, front-line staff and voluntary and community groups will be involved in its development and application.

Launching the document, NIO Minister Des Browne praised the work of the devolved administration and former health minister Bairbre de Brún in delivering "major achievements", and called for decision-makers to "build upon the important initiatives and investments designed to develop parts of the service over recent years".

He added: "The Health and Social Services have delivered major achievements in the face of rapidly growing demands and finite resources. There have been, for example, dramatic improvements in recent years in infant mortality and substantial increases in the number of people being supported by care packages. More people than ever before are using the health and social services.”

However, in acknowledging the "serious challenges" ahead, Mr Browne said that despite the significant resources government has made available in recent years, "the problems of unmet need are increasing". He cited burgeoning waiting lists and difficulties associated with staff recruitment as issues that must be tackled through a "coherent" 20-year strategy.

Mr Browne emphasised that there would be no delay or change on decisions that have already been made, such as the new arrangements for primary care or the actions that will flow from the Acute Hospitals Review.

The closing date for responses to the Consultation document is 28 March 2003.

(GMcG)