Ambitious health care plans for Northern Ireland

An ambitious plan shake-up of Northern Ireland's health and social care system to make it fit for the 21st century has been unveiled.

The 10-year plan is being introduced to improve the system, which, according to Health Minister Michelle O’Neill, is currently at ‘breaking point’.

The 18 time-specific action points are based on recommendations from the Systems, Not Structures - Changing Health and Social Care report, consisting of a government-appointed panel.

O’Neill claims that Northern Ireland's health system is unsustainable as it had not changed quickly enough to meet the needs of an ageing population.

The Delivering Together plan includes a renewed focus on illness prevention and keeping people well, better capacity in primary care, based on substantial additional investment and a reform of hospital services.

O’Neill has also pledged investment to ensure every GP practice has a named district nurse, health visitor and social worker and further support for looked-after children.

Opposition politicians have questioned the lack of details in the plan, which is not costed, with O’Neill conceding atet the plan does not offer ‘a quick fix’. The Health Minister also said a plan to tackle waiting lists would be drawn up by early in 2017.

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This story was first published in digitalhealth.net

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