Health boards scrapped in major reorganisation

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Health Minister announced reorganisation of health and social care structures in Northern Ireland.

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has confirmed that a new Regional Health and Social Care Board with up to 400 staff will replace the four existing boards.

It will focus on financial management, performance management and improvement and commissioning.

Mr McGimpsey told the Assembly that his reforms will include a smaller, more sharply focused Department of Health, Social Service and Public Safety.

There will also be:

  • Five local commissioning groups (to plan and resource services) to cover the same geographical area as the five Health and Social Care Trusts created last April, whose members will include councillors.
  • A common services organisation to provide a range of support functions for the health and social care service.
  • Stronger health and social services councils, which will also have councillors as members.

Consultation on the proposals will be launched later this month.

The Minister said:

“The previous proposals included the establishment of a huge Health Authority with nearly 2,000 staff. It did not provide for clear accountability or exploit the many opportunities for active partnership with local government and other key stakeholders in the promotion of improved health and wellbeing.

“I wanted to be satisfied that any new structures would be accountable and deliver the best standard of treatment and care for all the citizens of Northern Ireland, now and in the future.“

"Our health services must change if we are to meet the demands of a changing population, who rightly expect services delivered in their own communities and new life-saving drugs. We must focus on prevention, reduce reliance on hospitals and support people to live independently and safely in their own homes for as long as possible.”



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