Management Structure of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust
Mr McGlone asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what reviews have been
carried out, in the last year, in relation to the management structure of the Northern Health and Social
Care Trust, including how management communicates with medical staff in hospitals.
(AQW 12055/11-15)
Mr Poots: The Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s Senior Management Team was restructured in
July 2011. There are various forums used to communicate with medical staff on corporate, directorate and service
level information. Whilst many of these forums are cross directorate/ cross professional, there are also
arrangements in place for specific professions. For medical staff, this includes Chief Executive briefings
every two months attended by senior medical staff, including Clinical Directors and the Chief Executive
is invited to attend meetings of Medical Staff Committees on a regular basis.
The Northern Trust’s Acute Hospital Services Directorate has participated in a number of audits to test
the effectiveness of engagement within the directorate and this includes communications with medical
staff. Most recently, the Trust has adopted a “road show” type approach within acute services to talk
about key challenges on a multi disciplinary basis.
Population Plans for Trust Areas
Mr McMullan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (i) how many
groups are involved in the production of the population plans for the Northern Health and Social Care
Trust area; (ii) the names and professions of members of the Professional Advisory Groups; and (iii) the
groups working on the Compton Report.
(AQW 12122/11-15)
Mr Poots: The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has set up fifteen Professional Advisory Groups
to support the development of the population plan for the Northern Trust area, as set out below:
1 Acute and General Medicine
2 Anaesthetics, Transport and Critical Care
3 Cardiology
4 Care of the Elderly and Stroke Medicine
5 Diabetes and Endocrinology
6 Emergency Medicine, Urgent Care and Minor Injuries
7 Gastroenterology and Nutrition
8 General Surgery
9 Medical Diagnostics
10 Medical Specialties (Renal, Neurology, Dermatology, Rheumatology, Haematology)
11 Obstetrics and Gynaecology
12 Paediatrics
13 Palliative Care
14 Respiratory Medicine
15 Pain Relief
The Professional Advisory Groups have been supported by the NHSCT Chief Executive, Medical
Director, Nursing Director, Director of Acute Hospital Services and Director of Planning, Performance
Management and Support Services and Local Commissioning Group representatives.
The groups consist of a cross section of staff including clinical, nursing and primary care
representatives. The names and professions of the members of each group are provided on the table
below. The General Practitioners involved move between different groups and their names are therefore
not recorded against any specific Professional Advisory Group.
Hinds and Rutter Reports into the Antrim Area Hospital
Mr Allister asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, in light of the Hinds and
Rutter reports into the Antrim Area Hospital, what action he intends to take, particularly in relation to
the finding of a failure to meet the ‘fundamental human needs’ of patients.
(AQW 12128/11-15)
Mr Poots: Both the Hinds and Rutter reviews were commissioned by the Health and Social Care
Board(HSCB) as part of their performance management strategy to improve patient waiting times and
the overall patient experience at Antrim Area Hospital. This aligns with the work of the Emergency
Department Improvement Action Group which I requested be established by the HSCB, in liaison with
the Public Health Agency, to secure significant improvements in the performance of A&E Departments
across Northern Ireland and the patient experience.
The HSCB will be reporting to the Department on the totality of the work on improving Emergency
Department quality and performance and these reports make a helpful and important contribution
to this work. As required by the Department, the Board is examining and applying the best available,
evidence based, good practice in whole system, not just Emergency Department, management.
Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s Revised Proposal on Statutory Residential
Homes
Mr Beggs asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, in light of the need to
implement recommendation 18 of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s revised proposal on
statutory residential homes which was published in March 2009, what progress has been made in
securing capital commitments and obtaining planning permission for new accommodation and services
on the site of Greenisland House.
(AQW 12518/11-15)
Mr Poots: The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has been working with colleagues in the Northern
Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) to identify the priorities for development of Supported Housing within
its locale and Greenisland House has been prioritised for replacement within this programme. The Trust
has had regular meetings with a local stakeholder group regarding the proposal to develop a supported
housing scheme on this site.
I can advise that the Trust is currently awaiting the appointment, by NIHE, of a housing provider to
progress the planning of the build and application for planning permission with the expectation that will
be completed during the financial year 2013/2014.