Health service improvement continues

Date published: 6 December 2021

Publishing the Health and Wellbeing 2026: Delivering Together progress report, Health Minister Robin Swann, said: “The impressive progress highlights the effects of a dedicated workforce, who are committed to always improving the outcomes for the whole population of Northern Ireland despite the considerable pressures facing them.”

Minister Swann continued: “Not only have projects continued to progress throughout the pandemic but they also enabled new ways of working and increased capacity at a time of huge need.”

£300million has been invested on projects to improve health and social care outcomes since the 10 year roadmap was first published in 2016. The latest report outlines progress across a broad range of critical areas included – amongst many other initiatives – the reconfiguration of existing services, improved capacity and flow of patients through hospitals, supported and expanded primary care services, strengthening of the workforce, investment in e-health, innovation and leadership and the development of new practises in social work.

The report also highlights the system’s capacity, capability and willingness to improve through the creation of new care pathways in Primary Care Multi-Disciplinary Teams and through Day Procedure Centres.

Minister Swann said: “I am delighted with the significant and sustained progress made over the last year. The direction of travel within Delivering Together, continues to guide the changes still required and represents the only long-term answer to the challenge of rebuilding faced by our health and social care system post-pandemic.”

The Minister also added that: “The rebuilding of services will take some time and will require a response that is both agile and adaptable to ensure the system can respond to the ongoing pandemic whilst optimising its ability to stabilise and move forward.

“New ways of working and service innovations have arisen in the last 12 months which we must continue to embrace as we respond to the ongoing demands of the pandemic.”