A Message from the Chairman

The move from Health and Social Services Councils to a Patient and Client Council is progressing towards its establishment from 1 April 2009. Over the summer the Chair (Designate) of the Patient and Client Council will be advertised with appointments expected to be made from October 2008.

It has been a difficult time for members and staff who, while continuing to prepare for change, have strived to remain focused on representing the interests of the public in health and social care issues. I thank them for their perseverance.

I am grateful to the Health Minister, Mr McGimpsey, who having met with the Commissioner for Public Appointments, announced a year’s extension to those members within the NHSSC whose term of office had been due to expire at the end of March 2008.

The 1 April 2009 will also see the establishment of three other new Health and Social Care bodies: the Regional Health and Social Care Board, the Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-Being and the Regional Support Services Organisation. The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety Modernisation and Improvement Programme Board is charged with establishing the new organizations. I am honoured to represent Health and Social Services Councils on the Board and am committed to fulfilling our purpose which is ‘to secure sustained improvement in the quality and efficiency of health and social care services in line with Ministerial priorities by developing and implementing health and social care structures and systems that are fit for purpose’.

It is the Health Minister’s desire to have a modern and responsive health service which puts patients and clients at the heart of its thinking. In this the 60th year of the National Health Service let’s embrace the changes and support the Health Minister in his quest to truly transform our system into one that is world class and fit for the twenty first century.

TOM CREIGHTON
CHAIRMAN