Policy Forum for Northern Ireland Keynote Seminar

Implementing ‘Transforming Your Care’ - innovation, efficiency and cross-border collaboration

This conference will be a timely opportunity to consider the likely impact of the wide-ranging proposals for reform of health and social care services in Northern Ireland set out in the NI Executive’s strategy ‘Transforming Your Care’ (TYC).

Sessions include discussion on the efficiency gains that can be achieved through effective cross-border collaboration so I thought the seminar might be of particular interest to you on that basis, but also felt you might appreciate the opportunity to engage in discussion of the wider reforms to Northern Ireland’s health service.

Central to discussion will be the extent to which the plans can meet the challenge for improving efficiency in light of the twin pressures of budgetary constraint and an ageing population.

Delegates will also discuss other steps to improve efficiency including the role of cross-border collaboration and harnessing the potential of innovation - as well as the introduction of Electronic Care Records and utilising latest developments in telehealth and life sciences to deliver new ways of working and better outcomes.

The conference will bring together key policymakers in the NI Assembly and NI Executive with stakeholders from across HSC services, private and third-sector health and social care providers, cross-border collaborative services, pharmacies, hospices, pharmaceutical businesses and telehealth providers, medical associations and trade unions, patient groups, charities, local authorities and academics.

Topics for discussion include:

• Improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the integrated health and social care system including the introduction of Integrated Care Partnerships;
• Challenges posed by the implementation of TYC including the impact on workforce planning, the move to more care in the community and maintaining quality of care during the implementation period;
• Putting TYC’s vision of ‘home as the hub of care’ into practice and the potential for wider use of telehealth services;
• Utilising cross-border collaboration with service providers in the Republic of Ireland and across the UK;
• Making the most of Northern Ireland’s life sciences industry to deliver innovative approaches in health and social care delivery.

The draft agenda is copied below my signature, and a regularly updated version is available to download here. The seminar is organised on the basis of strict impartiality by the Policy Forum for Northern Ireland.

Speakers

We are delighted to be able to include in this seminar keynote addresses from: Edwin Poots MLA, Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Northern Ireland Executive and and Professor Deidre Heenan, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Communications) and Provost (Coleraine and Magee), University of Ulster and Member, Advisory Panel, TYC Review, Review of Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland (2011).

Further confirmed speakers include: Simon Arnold, Director, TF3 Consortium; Professor Mike Clarke, Director MRC Methodology Hub, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen’s University Belfast; Colm Donaghy, Chief Executive, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust; Angela Fitzgerald, Regional Director for Performance and Integration, Health Service Executive (HSE) Dublin North East; Colette Goldrick, Director, Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry Northern Ireland; Maeve Hully, Chief Executive, Patient and Client Council; Mairead McAlinden, Chief Executive, Southern Health and Social Care Trust; Hugh Mills, Chief Executive and Director of Development, Independent Health & Care Providers; Janice Smyth, Director, Royal College of Nursing Northern Ireland and Karen Smyth, Head of Policy, Northern Ireland Local Government Association. Additional senior participants are being approached.

Kieran McCarthy MLA, Member, Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Northern Ireland Assembly and Maeve McLaughlin MLA, Chair, Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Northern Ireland Assembly has kindly agreed to chair the second half of this seminar. Further senior participants are being approached.

Networking

This seminar will present an opportunity to engage with key policymakers and other interested parties and is CPD certified (more details). Places have been reserved by officials from the Department of Health, Government of Ireland. Also due to attend are representatives from Belfast HSC Trust; Boehringer-Ingelheim; Glen Caring Services; HSC Board; HSC Clinical Education Centre; MSD UK; Northern HSC Trust; Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children; Northern Ireland Dementia Services Development Centre; Northern Ireland Social Care Council; South Eastern HSC Trust; Western HSC Trust and Willowbank.

Overall, we expect attendees to be a senior and informed group numbering around 120, including Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly and senior officials from the Northern Ireland Executive, regulators and other agencies, together with health and social care professionals, independent social care providers, representatives of health and social care consumer organisations, trade unions, local government, representatives of healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, academia, interested and affected charities and user groups, together with representatives of the national and trade press based in Northern Ireland and elsewhere.

Output

A key output of the seminar will be a transcript of the proceedings, sent out within a week of the event to all attendees and a wider group of Ministers and officials in the Department for Health, Social Services and Public Safety; as well as MLAs with a special interest in the subject. It will also be made available more widely. This document will include transcripts of all speeches and questions and answers sessions from the day, along with access to PowerPoint presentations, speakers’ biographies, an attendee list, an agenda and sponsor information. It is made available subject to strict restrictions on public use, and is intended to provide timely information for interested parties who are unable to attend on the day.

All delegates will receive complimentary PDF copies and are invited to contribute to the content.

Booking arrangements

To book places, please use our online booking form.

Once submitted, this will be taken as a confirmed booking and will be subject to our terms and conditions below.

Please pay in advance by credit card on 01344 864 796. If advance credit card payment is not possible, please let me know and we may be able to make other arrangements.

Options and charges are as follows:

• Places at Implementing ‘Transforming Your Care’ - innovation, efficiency and cross-border collaboration (including refreshments and PDF copy of the transcripts) are £190 plus VAT;
• Concessionary rate places for small charities, unfunded individuals and those in similar circumstances are £80 plus VAT. Please be sure to apply for this at the time of booking.

For those who cannot attend:

• Copies of the briefing document, including full transcripts of all speeches and the questions and comments sessions and further articles from interested parties, will be available approximately 7 days after the event for £95 plus VAT;
• Concessionary rate: £50 plus VAT.