Governments’ joint health services study recommends all-island co-operation

REPORT COVERS CANCER TREATMENT, SUBSTANCE MISUSE, OBESITY, MENTAL HEALTH, SUICIDE PREVENTION, SEXUAL HEALTH, COMMUNITY CARE, EMERGENCY PLANNING, AMBULANCE SERVICES

A MAJOR REPORT compiled by the Departments of Health in Belfast and Dublin, the result of two years’ work, has recommended what Sinn Féin has been proposing for years – all-island co-operation in health services delivery.
While there has been some co-operation at various levels in health service delivery, the report tacitly acknowledges this has been piecemeal in stating “what this study provides is a structured approach to its ongoing development, with clearly identified areas for further co-operation and explicit roles and responsibilities for departments and agencies”.
The Sinn Féin Chair of the Assembly Health Committee, Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA (Fermanagh/South Tyrone), welcomed the recommendations and called on Health Ministers Edwin Poots and James Reilly to implement the recommendations, saying many could be done without delay.
The study was jointly commissioned by the Department of Health and Children in the 26 Counties and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in the North.
The report makes 37 recommendations in total but a number of key initiatives are emphasised, including that both bodies should work closely in developing strategies and policies. This extends to the sharing of information, best practice, the development and application of common quality standards and collaboration in the area of research and joint planning for the potential introduction of new technologies.
The study argues for increased collaboration in addressing public health issues given the similar challenges faced on both sides of the border in terms of health inequalities.
Recommendations are also made on substance misuse, obesity, communicable and non-communicable diseases, mental health promotion and suicide prevention, lifestyle issues, sexual health and teenage pregnancy.
Initiatives in the areas of health improvement and improving access to health and social care services are flagged as are moves in the areas of disability, mental health, children’s services, emergency planning, emergency ambulance services, quality and safety.
Among the suggested initiatives are support for the examination of the potential to develop joint paediatric and congenital cardiac services, additional radiotherapy provision in the North-West, in Altnagelvin, transplantation services, brain injury services, and children’s services such as child protection, care and fostering.
Key recommendations are for the departments and all agencies to develop joint programmes and approaches to tackle obesity and also to promote positive mental health and suicide prevention. The report added that the All-Island Action Plan on Suicide Prevention should be broadened to include mental health promotion.
Also dealt with are “workforce issues”, research and development, new technology, joint procurement and, in overall terms, strategy and policy development.
Sinn Féin’s Michelle Gildernew said:
“The North-South Feasibility Study presents a programme for real progress in the development of health services on an all-Ireland basis with benefits for all who share this island.
“This study should have been published when it was completed in February 2009 but it was deliberately withheld by former Health Ministers Michael McGimpsey and Mary Harney. I welcome its publication now and its recommendations.
“Many of the recommendations can and should be acted upon immediately. These include the development of radiotherapy capacity in Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry, to improve access to radiotherapy for the population in the North-West, joint work on less common organ transplants, child protection and cross-border foster care.
“I welcome especially the recommendation for the two departments and relevant agencies to explore approaches to improve access to services, including high quality primary and community care services, particularly for populations in remote rural or border areas.
“Health Ministers James Reilly and Edwin Poots should now act to implement the recommendations of this study and put in place implementation plans in the coming months.”