Nations & Regions
Northern Ireland
Health Service commissioning in Northern Ireland is currently carried out by four Health & Social Services Boards supported by Local Health & Social Care Groups. Following the Government’s Review of Public Administration, the four health boards are being merged into one Health & Social Services Authority that will be responsible for commissioning health services. The single Health & Social Services Authority will be supported by seven Local Commissioning Groups.
The new Health & Social Services Authority will take full responsibility for commissioning from April 2008. In April 2007 the 18 current Health & Social Service Trusts in Northern Ireland will be replaced by five new trusts who will begin the process of preparing for the introduction of the seven new Local Commissioning Groups.
During 2007 the Long Term Conditions Alliance Northern Ireland, an umbrella organisation made up of patient groups, will begin developing models of best practice for local commissioning within the context of the new health structures in Northern Ireland.
Recommended Reading
A Moving Picture: Asthma in Northern Ire... - This document highlights the extent of asthma in Northern Ireland and gives an indication of the impact that asthma can have on people living with the condition. It also gives an indication of the kinds of services that people with asthma have a right to expect, and identifies areas for improvement ... read more »
Making Patients the Experts - This reports on a conference held in May 2006. It contains useful information on self-management as a means of controlling long-term conditions to improve patients' quality of life and reduce admissions. read more »
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