Goggins Legislates for Radical Health Shake-up

Announcing the launch of the consultation on the Health and Social Services (Reform) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007, Health Minister, Paul Goggins, pledged that this Order would lay the foundations for radical health service reforms.

The Minister said: “This is a substantial piece of legislation - the cornerstone of the RPA reforms. It establishes the roles and responsibilities of the new health and social care bodies and sets out very clearly the accountability arrangements that will be put in place. These new structures make clear to the public who is accountable and what they can expect to see delivered.

“The Trusts will be accountable to the new Health and Social Services Authority for their performance, the Authority will be accountable to the Department and ultimately the whole system will be accountable to patients, clients, carers and all of the people who need our services.

Paul Goggins said: “I want people to have more say about their own treatment and care. It is vital that we listen to the views of the public because they have first hand experience of using those services. That is why we are creating a powerful, independent Patient Client Council.”

The Minister said: "More streamlined arrangements are not only more accountable, they are more efficient. Despite the best efforts of the hard working staff, the health and social care sector has been blighted for too long by bureaucracy, too many organisations and too many boundaries. I want this money spent on front line care for patients and clients. I want to sweep red tape away and organise services so that they are more responsive to everyone who needs them.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The draft Reform Order creates the legislative framework for the new health and social care organisations. When passed the Order will give the legal authority to bring about:

· The new Health and Social Services Authority in place of the existing four Health and Social Services Boards which will commission services on a region-wide basis and performance manage the new Trusts;

· Seven primary care-led Local Commissioning Groups, within the Authority, which will involve local health and social care professionals and lay representatives in planning services at community level and in partnership with communities;

· A new Patient and Client Council in place of the four existing Health and Social Services Councils;

· A new ‘Duty of Engagement’ on all health and social care organisations to ensure that they are listening to the needs of communities;

· The abolition of seven agencies and the transfer of their functions, staff, assets and liabilities to other health and social care bodies including the Authority, the Trusts and the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority.

2. In November 2005, new organisational structures for health and social services in Northern Ireland were announced.

3. The public is now being invited to comment on draft proposals for the legislative changes required to bring about the restructuring in the provision of the health and social care system in Northern Ireland.

4. The consultation package on the draft Order may be accessed on the Department's website at: www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/consultations/current_consultations.htm


5. The consultation period will end on 11 April 2007.

Media queries to Aine Gaughran, DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0074.