Minister Nesbitt launches ‘This is our health’ engagement programme
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt today launched a new large scale and innovative engagement programme designed to establish a clear, shared, and credible deal between Northern Ireland’s citizens and the health and social care system.
The Minister visited the Lesley Abbeycentre in Newtownabbey this morning to take part in a ‘This is our health’ event and to hear the views of individuals.
Commenting Minister Nesbitt said we all need to consider a different approach when it comes to building a healthier, more resilient Northern Ireland. “This is not a typical public health campaign or survey. We won’t be telling people what we think they should do, they will be telling us, and that’s a significant shift. ‘This is our health’ is very much part of our Reset Plan and links well with the Neighbourhood Model of care and the need to change and develop the relationship between people and the health service. These conversations will help us shape a more sustainable, responsive and effective health and social care system.”
‘This is our health’ is a key part of the Minister’s overall strategic approach to prevention in the Reset Plan reflecting the important shift of ‘People to Partners.’ The programme will identify what people need most from the health service and the part they can play in making those services work better.
Minister Nesbitt continued: “Our healthcare resources are limited, demand is rising and care is becoming more complex. Through ‘This is our Health’ people will be telling us what things help them stay well for longer, what they want the health service to guarantee, and in turn what they could do to help protect services going forward. So, freeing up capacity and protecting vital services will be important outcomes.”
‘This is our health’ will be rolled out in every county across Northern Ireland between now and the end of June and will include in-person engagement in a range of public spaces and within community and voluntary groups. People will also be able to contribute through digital and social media channels, as well as completing a short questionnaire online.
More details on how you can join the conversation and updates about the location of upcoming engagement events can be found at https://thisisourhealth.org.uk/(external link opens in a new window / tab).
- Photo caption: Minister Mike Nesbitt with the Public Health Agency Partnership and Engagement team at the ‘This is our Health’ roadshow this morning.
Photo caption: Bronagh Donnelly from PHA shows Health Minister Mike Nesbitt the retro engagement tools used as part of the ‘This is our Health’ roadshows. - The aim of This is our Health is to listen to people and start developing an agreed “health and care deal” — an agreement between the public and the HSC system about how we can all play a bigger part, so people can live healthier lives and services can focus their efforts where and when they are needed most.
- The programme will be rolled out across Northern Ireland between now and the end of June at events organised by the Trusts, PHA and the Community and Voluntary sector. It is designed not only to understand what matters most to people, but to encourage practical changes in how people look after their health and use services.
- Instead of formal consultations, people are being engaged in public spaces through unexpected formats, including retro-style arcade machines where they use a joystick to answer questions about the daily things and the people who help them to stay well.
- For media enquiries please contact DoH Press Office by e-mail: pressoffice@health-ni.gov.uk
- Follow us on: Facebook Department of Health NI(external link opens in a new window / tab), Instagram departmentofhealthni (external link opens in a new window / tab), X @healthdpt(external link opens in a new window / tab), LinkedIn Department of Health NI(external link opens in a new window / tab)
- The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service For Media Enquiries Only between 1800 hrs and 0800 hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.