Speech from the Chairman of Northern Ireland Council, Mr Maurice Dunlop
Thursday 3 July 2003
Chairman, members of the representative body.
Northern Ireland Council has followed closely the turbulent medico-political scene over the past year and has had local contact to facilitate progress.
The General Practitioners Committee (NI) has already been working with the department here since January by way of preparation for implementation of a new GMS contract in Northern Ireland, and this work will continue energetically to introduce the greatly improved new arrangements. The Northern Ireland Health Minister’s accompanying promise of an increase in resource investment for GMS in primary care of over £45 million over the next three years, was very welcome.
Having monitored developments in the other three nations since the ballot on the consultant contract framework, the NI Consultants and Specialists Committee decided in may this year, that the time was right to enter into discussion with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety with a view to developing a contract that would be advantageous to consultants in Northern Ireland, and an exploratory meeting has been scheduled for August.
The suspension of the NI Assembly in October 2002, saw the appointment of direct rule health minister, Mr Des Browne MP, and the opportunity was taken at a meeting with him to air the profession’s views on a range of issues, not least concerns about the lack of decision-making particularly with regard to the future of acute hospital services in the province. BMA(NI) welcomed decisions eventually taken in this regard in February 2003 bearing in mind the seemingly endless round of consultations.
GPC(NI) also took the opportunity of the appointment of a new health minister to restate concerns surrounding the establishment of local health and social care groups which replaced gp fundholding in Northern Ireland in April 2002. Constructive dialogue has now opened with the DHSSPS. However, ministerial commitment to the vision that LHSCGS develop to become empowered autonomous bodies, given the means to commission services based on the needs of their communities, remains outstanding. While fully supportive of the concept of multidisciplinary groupings employing people at grass roots level to determine the delivery of the service locally, GPs continue to demonstrate their resolve in respect of the outstanding issues by refusing to join lhscg management boards until they can have a worthwhile effect.
Much work went into the production of the BMA(NI)’s first health manifesto “Your health, your future – put health first” which was circulated to NI Assembly candidates just before our elections were postponed.
The Northern Ireland Junior Doctors Committee continues to raise concerns about the slow progress with regard to compliancy rates in Northern Ireland - latest figures available show the average compliancy rate in NI is 49% compared to 71% in GB. The committee continues to liaise closely with the department via the ni implementation support group and a meeting with DHSSPS officials to discuss compliancy issues has been arranged for the near future.
The dhssps is in the throes of developing a new 20-year regional strategy for health and well being in Northern Ireland (something equivalent to the NHS plan), and having commented on a preliminary consultation document, the association has had input to dhssps workshops hosted in may, and will be making nominations to various working groups which are being established to inform the development of a new health strategy for the province.
This year also saw the establishment of a new NI craft committee, the Northern Ireland Staff and Associate Specialists Committee, with a very successful first meeting in October 2002. The committee has since been very active on its members behalf and is directly involved in the recently established national working group, tasked with considering terms and conditions for sas doctors with a view to progressing the single spine proposals.
I am happy to report that plans for our second All Ireland Health Conference scheduled for november this year are on track and will be hosted in Belfast. We have no doubt this event will be as successful as the first one.
The relationship between council and the various craft committees is delicate and under review in the governance project. I am not in favour of a more rigid structure.
In conclusion, our efforts to influence our ever-changing political masters – yes, another northern ireland health minister has just been appointed, Angela Smith MP - will continue. We very much hope that the positive steps taken by Des Browne to progress health issues here will continue and look forward to meeting and working with Mrs Smith in a way that will be of benefit to doctors and patients alike.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the staff of the bma belfast office for their continued support and hard work during the year. Finally, a "thank you" to Dr Ian Bogle for his service as chairman of council. Dr Bogle has addressed the membership in Northern Ireland at an annual meeting for the past several years. These meetings have always very well received and were much appreciated. Congratulations to Dr Bogle on his recent award which was richly deserved.
Chairman, I move.
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