Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has highlighted key areas of progress during another very challenging year for health and social care services in Northern Ireland.
The Minister was commenting on the first anniversary of the restoration of the NI Executive.
He said:
“I was honoured to take up the post of Health Minister during the course of the past year. I believe devolution is in Northern Ireland’s best interests and I know Government can be and often is a real force for good in society.
“We have many deep, long-standing challenges in health and social care, with provision falling well short of what is required across key sectors.
“As I have stated repeatedly, a whole of Government approach is needed to drive forward lasting improvements.
“However, despite intense budgetary pressures, some important progress has still been achieved in the past year. This includes pay packages for health workers for 2023/24 and 2024/25 based on maintaining pay parity with England. This is not just about avoiding the disruption of industrial action. It is essential that staff are properly rewarded and valued for the great work they do.
“I also believe we have massive opportunities in this Assembly in relation to public health. We have ensured that Northern Ireland will be included in the plans for a smoke-free generation in the UK, and I have committed to introducing minimum pricing for alcohol. I have also launched a Live Better initiative to help tackle the shocking health inequalities in our society.
“On the health reform front, one of my first decisions as Minister was to invite Professor Rafael Bengoa back to NI for a keynote conference on our ongoing work to transform services. I have published a three year strategic plan for health and social care based on Stabilisation, Reform and Delivery. I have also published a framework for reconfiguring hospital services, based on all our hospitals playing an essential part in an overall network of care.
“Improving social care has been another key focus. A £70m support package for social care providers and hospices was announced by my predecessor Robin Swann in March last year. I am committed to making the independent adult social care sector a Real Living Wage sector and I have launched the Social Care Workforce Strategy to ensure we attract, grow, retain and develop our workforce.
“I was also very pleased to bring forward a funding package to increase short breaks capacity and expand support in the community for children with complex needs and their families.
“In primary care, I am working to significantly expand the Multi-Disciplinary Teams model and to build up and support the sector.”
The Minister added:
“There is, of course, a great deal more work to do and the three year plan sets out a clear direction of travel. I am under no illusions about the scale of the problems that we face. Hospital waiting lists have been identified as an Executive priority under the draft Programme for Government. As this document states, it will not be possible to reduce our lengthy waiting times within the funding currently available. I will continue to make the case for sustained and additional investment.”