NICON focuses on challenges in health and social care

Hundreds of health professionals from across Northern Ireland and Great Britain descended upon Belfast this week to discuss 'Transformation in Practice' at the annual NICON conference and exhibition.

Commissioners, clinicians and service providers are meeting at a time when the health service exists under relentless pressure. Waiting lists are growing while budgets shrink. GP surgeries across Northern Ireland are being forced to close and, more recently, we have heard that emergency services at Daisy Hill Hospital are at risk.

As the NHS in England and Scotland recover from a major cyber-attack that crippled IT systems over the weekend, we are reminded of the myriad challenges facing the sector. It is now a case of when the next cyber-attack takes place, rather than if,  and with the population living longer than ever before, new problems must be met with innovative solutions.

The cyber-attack highlights the need for the focus of capital expenditure to include not only buildings and services but systems and processes. Such measures should be flexible and resilient. That is a reality that we here in Northern Ireland will find difficult to accept, the tendency having always been to judge the state of the health and social care system on how far we are required to travel for access to services.

'Co-production', 'patient-centred care' and 'innovative solutions' are terms sure to be echoing through the corridors of the La Mon hotel as NICON draws to a close today.

So, how is your organisation placed to shape the transformation agenda? Have you the resources to do so? Please feel free to get in touch to discuss how Stratagem can support you in securing your desired outcomes in this changing political, policy and public service environment.