Back on track: securing the health and wellbeing of Northern Ireland's population

Northern Ireland’s health and social care system is under extreme and mounting pressure. A series of strategic reviews had concluded that significant service redesign and sustained investment would be necessary to address the long-term needs of our population. The pandemic, absence of functioning government, rising demand and industrial action has considerably worsened the situation. 

Unsurprisingly, health consistently ranks as a key concern in the public’s mind. With the return of the executive and the welcome appointment of the new Minister of Health, Robin Swann MLA, this document sets out four key member priorities:

• workforce
• sustainable funding
• redesigned services
• empowered and collaborative leadership. 

To underpin this, we must also move forward on a range of other issues – stabilisation and transformation; investment in a population health approach; implementation of mental health and social care reform; delivery of our technology strategy; engaging patients and partners; being proactive innovators; and supporting delivery of the net zero targets.

While the challenge is truly unprecedented, our members believe that there is significant opportunity to make material progress, by delivering a bold reform agenda and placing health and social care at the heart of all we do in Northern Ireland. Our call to the public and politicians alike is to ‘support us to support you.’