Local Health and Social Care Groups

We’ve been in there from the start. Several members joined Northern Health and Social Services Board colleagues for the short-listing and interviewing of applicants for the positions of community/service user representatives on the four Local Health and Social Care Groups (LHSCGs).

Formally established at the end of June 2002, these new bodies enable community representatives to work alongside family doctors, district nurses, social workers and other key health and personal social staff on the development of services for patients and the wider community, inputting to and influencing how services are arranged and developed.

The next few years will see LHSCGs gradually taking on more responsibility for arranging services.

Moving forward in primary care was on the agenda at the first ever regional conference of LHSCG members. Over 250 delegates converged on the Armagh City Hotel, including Noel Graham, Chief Officer and Joe McFadden, Chairman. The conference touched on many important aspects and looked at Primary Care Teams in England, LHSCGs in Scotland and how LHSCGs in Northern Ireland are getting on so far.

Allowing for a settling in period Noel and Joe met with the Chairmen of the LHSCGs to discuss the way forward and the possibility of providing support to the community representatives on each Group.

A presentation to each Management Board on the role of the NHSSC is now on the cards.