RCN Northern Ireland Welcomes Proposals For Health Reform

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 19 Feb 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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Responding to the publication of detailed proposals to reform health and social care in Northern Ireland, Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Northern Ireland Director Mary Hinds said:

"We welcome the Minister's emphasis upon tackling health inequalities and enhancing health promotion and disease prevention through the new Regional Public Health Agency. Nurses, working in partnership with local communities, their elected representatives, and other members of the health and social team, are key to achieving the vision of a Northern Ireland in which high quality and sustainable services are accessible to all members of our community, regardless of where they live or the background from which they come.

"The new Regional Board will be responsible primarily for the commissioning and performance management of the health service in Northern Ireland. As the consultation document acknowledges, the focus of the Board must be upon the quality of care for patients and clients, accountability, transparency, efficiency and effectiveness. Nursing is absolutely integral to all these areas and we are pleased that the Minister has provided an opportunity, through the consultation process, for us to ensure that the nursing voice is heard within the new Board, both at the top table and at a local level.

We also welcome the retention of the Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nursing and Midwifery (NIPEC) and believe that its role should be strengthened and enhanced in order further to improve standards of care for patients and clients.

"The challenge for the RCN over the next twelve weeks is to articulate how a strong nursing voice and a strong nursing input to the new Regional Public Health Agency and the new Regional Board, at both a strategic and local operational level, can help ensure that the Minister's vision, which we all share, become a reality."

Royal College of Nursing

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