The INI Action Plan
The work required to implement the recommendations from the INI Report has been ongoing and progressing simultaneously to the development of the INI Action Plan. It is relevant that the INI Report acknowledged that progress and change has already been made within the healthcare system during the completion of the Public Inquiry.
Many of the actions to be taken to implement the INI Report are aligned or interdependent with other Departmental work programmes and work being undertaken in parallel by other relevant organisations.
The INI Action Plan centres on the need to strengthen governance systems and processes and to change and improve the culture, leadership and accountability within health and social care organisations to ensure patient safety. It will be a conduit to support transparency, openness and to help to restore the public faith in the Health and Social Care system in Northern Ireland.
The purpose of the INI Action Plan is to ensure that the needs and safety of patients are at the forefront of our healthcare systems and organisations, and so that our healthcare provision will meet the expectations of service users at all times.
The INI Action Plan can be viewed here: Independent Neurology Inquiry (INI) - Implementation and Action Plans | Department of Health (health-ni.gov.uk)
Delivering the changes identified by the INI report requires a series of coordinated actions across a range of organisations, including the Department, General Medical Council (GMC), Healthcare Organisations and Independent Sector. The INI Action Plan sets out the actions planned and the progress and current status of the 76 recommendations of the INI.
The INI Action Plan outlines the actions and the progress and current status of the 76 recommendations of the INI that sit under two Themes, which will be delivered through the five cross-cutting and complimentary Workstreams that align to ensure the implementation of the recommendations of the INI Report.
The INI Action Plan is not just focused on amending and improving elements of the present system but also to support a sustained and unwavering culture change moving forward. It recognises the need to ensure that patient safety is paramount, supports the development of the healthcare workforce, provides a greater understanding of roles and responsibilities of management and the healthcare workforce, supports effective leadership and accountability and supports the realisation of an improved culture within health and social care organisations which provides openness and transparency.
Implementation of the INI Action Plan will be secured through the delivery of the two Themes, five Workstreams and the actions outlined against each INI recommendation, and the continued commitment of the Department, the Healthcare Organisations, the GMC and the Independent Sector Organisations to work in partnership to fully implement the INI Action Plan.