The Trust has unveiled its vision for the future of health and care services in the twenty-first century in Modernising Health and Social Care Services, which outlines the measures needed to realign services in a way that suits the needs of people living in the Trust area.

The proposals include developing or enhancing existing services or restructuring to make more effective use of current resources. This will mean finding better ways of working to realise savings that can be put to better use for patients.

Launching the document at the Northern Trust Board meeting in October, Trust Chairman, Jim Stewart, said,

“Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland is embarking on a period of considerable change. We need to develop services that are fit for the future and in this we face a number of challenges but also many opportunities.

“Devolution has provided us with the opportunity to develop services that reflect our local needs. We are, however, more acutely aware than ever that we operate within finite resources and we must make the most effective use of public funding while delivering high quality services.

“In the Trust area we have an increasingly older population whose needs must reflect the services we provide. We know from conversations and engagement with those who use our services that people want, as far as possible, to be cared for at home. New forms of treatment, new ways of working and new technologies will assist with this and we must embrace these.

“In the new world we want to support people of all ages and abilities at home for as long as possible and where it is appropriate. When a hospital stay is necessary it should be as short as possible, enabling people to get back home as soon as they can. While there is a real focus on improving hospital services there is equally a drive, and necessity, to develop community based services in collaboration with General Practitioners and with other organisations in the community, voluntary and private sectors.

“Our staff are our primary asset. A focus on workforce, skills and standards are paramount across all our services.

“Public expectation about health and social care services is high and we all rightly expect the best levels of care and support for ourselves and our families. To respond to these challenges the Trust must develop and modernise services so that they are fit for that future.”

The Trust has launched the first stage of a consultation process.

The Health Minister has asked all Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland to develop plans to deliver services more efficiently while improving quality and ensuring the best possible care for patients. This process will release savings which will be reinvested in frontline services in areas where it is most needed and can bring greatest improvement in health and well-being for the greatest number of people living in the Trust area.

The Trust is now embarking on an eight-week engagement process to consider the potential impact of the proposals. Mr Stewart emphasised the Northern Trust’s commitment to making sure that local people have their say.

“We have produced an overarching Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) paper that includes details of the changes the Trust is proposing. We have highlighted those proposals which we believe would have the most significant impact. We are suggesting that these proposals will require in-depth consultation and we will carry out full equality impact assessments before any final decisions are made.

“Once we have received initial views, a second consultation phase, focussing in more detail on individual proposals will run from January to March.”

A consultation questionnaire can be downloaded from the Trust’s website www.northerntrust.hscni.net by clicking on ‘involving you’ and it can be completed and returned via e-mail, fax or post by Friday 19 December 2008 to:

Head of Equality,

NHSCT

Equality Unit

Route Complex

8E Coleraine Road

Ballymoney BT53 6BP

Telephone/minicom: 2766 1377

Fax: 27661209

Email: equality.unit@northerntrust.hscni.net

To access the Trust plans click on the links below:

Northern Trust Strategic response to the Comprehensive Spending Review 2008-2011

Modernising Health and Social Care Services – Engagement and Consultation Programme Services