The boundaries and the chairpersons of the five new health and social service Trusts have been announced by Health Minister, Paul Goggins, MP.
While the new Trusts will become fully operational by April 2007, the appointment of the chairpersons to lead the new Trusts means that the new organisations will begin to take shape from August 2006.
The Minister said:
"This is a significant day for the Health and Social Services and a big step forward for us as we continue our work on the reform programme. The five new chairpersons have an important role to play in shaping and leading the new Trusts and ensuring that they are putting patients, clients and carers first."
NEW TRUST GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES
- The Western Area Trust - amalgamating the current Sperrin Lakeland, Foyle and Altnagelvin HSS Trusts. This would include the current local government districts of Derry, Fermanagh, Limavady, Omagh and Strabane;
- The Northern Area Trust - amalgamating the current Homefirst Community, Causeway and United Hospitals HSS Trusts. This would include the current local government districts of Antrim, Ballymoney, Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Coleraine, Cookstown, Larne, Magherafelt, Moyle and Newtownabbey.;
- The Southern Area Trust - amalgamating the current Craigavon Area Hospital Group, Craigavon and Banbridge Community, Newry and Mourne and Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trusts. This would include the current local government districts of Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Dungannon and Newry and Mourne;
- The Belfast Area Trust - amalgamating the current Belfast City Hospital, Royal Group of Hospitals, Mater Infirmorum, Greenpark, North and West Belfast (including Muckamore Hospital) and South and East Belfast HSS Trusts. This would include the current local government districts of Belfast and Castlereagh. (In developing the new management and governance structures for the new Belfast Area Trust, consideration will be given to the special status of the Mater Hospital, as stipulated in its 1972 Deed of Arrangement);
- The South Eastern Area Trust - amalgamating the current Ulster Community and Hospitals, and Down Lisburn HSS Trusts. This will include the current local government districts of Ards, North Down, Down, and Lisburn.
All responses to the consultation can be viewed on the DHSSPS website:
www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/hss/reviewpublicadmin/rpa-responses.htm
