Minister meets health staff

Minister meets health staff

21 December 2016

HEALTH Minister Michelle O’Neill was in Downpatrick last week to discuss her plans for transforming health and social care.

Ms O’Neill met a range of staff at the Downshire Civic Centre as part of a series of engagement sessions with health employees across the Province.

Ms O’Neill listened to the views of staff on how they believe she should move forward and is understood to have been impressed by a number of initiatives at the Downe Hospital, including its frail elderly rapid assessment unit and measures in place to provide direct access to physiotherapy services.

While taking time to listen to staff, the Health Minister did not make herself available for interview with local media or meet with local politicians or representatives from the Down Community Health Committee.

Her visit to Downpatrick comes just a few weeks after the publication of two major reports on the future of health and social care. The eagerly-awaited Bengoa report makes no mention of hospital closures or major changes to services, but is likely to have a significant impact on the delivery of healthcare in the East Down area in years to come.

The report is viewed primarily as a high level strategic document, outlining how services should be redesigned to make them fit for the 21st century and is the third major review of health services across the Province in the past 15 years. 

The report places a renewed focus on prevention and keeping people well, better primary care and a reform of hospital services. It was published alongside the health minister’s vision of health and social care across the Province over the next 10 years entitled Delivering Together.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said last week’s meeting in Downpatrick was arranged for Ms O’Neill to hear directly from South Eastern Trust staff.

“The minister has made no secret of her view that staff are the Health and Social Care (HSC) system’s greatest asset and their views and ideas are welcomed and valued by her. The meeting in Downpatrick was the latest in a series of engagements with HSC staff to discuss Delivering Together and the wider transformation process,” said the spokesperson.

“Due to diary commitments, the Minister had a very limited amount of time for this meeting which she wanted to use to ensure that staff were afforded a valuable and worthwhile opportunity to engage with her personally; this was welcomed by those who attended.”

Anyone wishing to contribute to the consultation can do so either online https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/consultations/health-and-social-care-transformation-consultation-criteria-reconfiguring-health-and-social-care or by post. Consultation closes on Friday, January 20.