Northern Ireland’s health minister, Mike Nesbitt, has unveiled a new three-year strategic health plan aimed at transforming the Health and Social Care (HSC) system. This plan includes a commitment to secure a “good” pay deal for nurses, alongside the introduction of a safe and effective staffing bill, addressing urgent issues within the healthcare sector.
The strategic framework is built upon three pillars: stabilisation, reform, and delivery. In his address to the assembly, Nesbitt acknowledged the severe pressure currently facing the HSC system and highlighted the need for reform. “It is important to be clear that reform is not a silver bullet that will solve everything,” he stated, emphasising that it is essential for providing hope for both staff and the public regarding the future of healthcare services.
While the plan outlines several goals to stabilise the HSC workforce, it notably lacks specifics on how these initiatives will be funded. By 2025, the government aims to work collaboratively with healthcare staff to establish pay awards, as many nurses are still awaiting a pay deal for the 2024-25 period.
The Department of Health recently confirmed that HSC staff in Northern Ireland would not receive the same 5.5% pay increase as their counterparts in the rest of the UK. Nesbitt previously indicated that budget constraints prevented him from delivering pay parity this year.
With the prospect of potential strike action looming, health unions have expressed concerns about the lack of progress on pay settlements. Nesbitt affirmed his commitment to achieving a fair and equitable pay structure during discussions with unions, stating, “I go into those discussions committed to stabilisation, committed to getting a good deal over the line.”
The strategic plan also includes a pledge to introduce safe staffing legislation to the assembly in 2025. This follows a public consultation held earlier this year, inviting feedback from nurses and other HSC staff on what the safe staffing framework should entail. The Northern Irish government had initially promised such legislation in January 2020, following industrial action by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), but delays have occurred due to the Covid-19 pandemic and political instability.
In addition to nurse pay and staffing legislation, the three-year HSC plan outlines various initiatives aimed at improving public health, primary and hospital care, social services, productivity, and patient safety. Key proposals include:
- Launching a new obesity strategic framework
- Implementing provisions from the UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill
- Introducing minimum unit pricing for alcohol
- Initiating a ‘live better’ programme targeting health inequalities
- Expanding lung and bowel screening programmes
- Tasking HSC trusts with delivering additional outpatient assessments and treatments by 2027
- Developing a multidisciplinary team model for general practice by April 2025
The plan also aims to reform neurology and stroke services, improve pathology services, and enhance the quality and safety of healthcare delivery. To support these initiatives, the government has committed to investing at least £160 million annually in education and workforce development.
Despite these ambitious goals, the lack of clear funding strategies raises concerns about the feasibility of the proposed changes. Rita Devlin, executive director of the RCN in Northern Ireland, has warned that without adequate investment, achieving better outcomes for both staff and patients may prove impossible.
“We must have urgent transformation in order to deliver the standard of care required and tackle significant challenges like waiting lists,” she explained, reiterating the need for a multi-year budget to support the ambitious plans outlined by the minister.
In summary, while the new health plan for Northern Ireland offers a hopeful vision for nurse pay and service improvement, it is clear that the success of these initiatives will depend heavily on securing the necessary funding.
