Grasping the nettle

The nettles

1. Promote honest dialogue with the public - as partners

• Help the public stay healthy and manage their own care – with support and technology. 
• Explore changing access to care with the public.
• Support the system to deliver for patients – managing our scarce resource.

2. Cultivate a valued and supported health and care workforce

• Take a strategic approach to workforce planning – funding, training, and modernisation.
• Improve flexibility - cross disciplinary and cross boundary working. 
• Make HSC NI a ‘go-to’ place to work.

3. Build the capacity in communities to manage care

• Shift services and budgets from hospital to community.
• Avoid admissions and speed up discharge by investing in social care.
• Capitalise on digital innovations and remote care.

4. Make primary care fit for the future

• Work with primary care partners to secure investment and innovation.
• Refocus upstream - invest in prevention and population health with partners.
• Build seamless pathways between primary and secondary care.

5. Reduce elective waiting times

• Utilise emerging best practice to innovate and drive improvement. 
• Work with partners to creatively manage lists - people waiting well.
• Secure additional investment to address the longest waiters.

6. Realise the ambition for a joined-up government approach

• Harness the intent of the Programme for Government - working together for a healthy population, tackling inequalities and protecting our planet.  
• Focus on children, mental health, and ageing well – working across sectors and with communities.
• Rethink research, innovation, and keeping people well – driving our economy.

7. Support Team HSC – building collaborative capacity to deliver

• Invest in system working to optimise our assets – driving productivity.
• Seek agreement on clear and sequenced actions, which are deliverable.
• Be open and compassionate - enhancing public confidence.