Voluntary and community organisations meet with high level health officials

The key civil servants had been instructed by Minister Michael McGimpsey to call the last minute meeting ahead of the Minister's briefing to the Assembly health committee.  Speaking before the meeting Michael McBride, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), explained that the Minister was keen to ensure voluntary and community organisations heard information from the department first hand, rather than as it ebbed into the press or other channels.  

Una McKernan, Deputy Chief Executive of NICVA, said "Everyone agrees that calling a meeting like this at 24 hours notice isn’t ideal but the current financial situation facing all departments is such a vital issue we were delighted to be in position to offer our members the opportunity to hear from high level officials. The high turnout and variety of organisations present shows the strong commitment that voluntary and community organisations have to ensuring the most vulnerable members of our community are protected during the tough times ahead."
 
During the discussion session, voluntary and community organisations challenged the officials to change their thinking about how the sector is viewed in the department.  There was a strong feeling that voluntary and community organisations active on health issues are seen as the ‘icing on the cake in the health department rather than one of the main ingredients’ and can be easily cut off in tough economic times.  

Eddie Rooney, Head of the Public Health Agency, disagreed with this and said that voluntary and community organisations were on the frontline of public health and if the department is to make progress on tackling health inequalities, then the capacity of the voluntary and community sector cannot be undermined.  Chief Social Services Officer Sean Holland said that the voluntary and community sector was valued for its expertise as well as its flexibility, innovation and value for money. 
 
The effectiveness and efficiency of the sector was another key theme of the discussion.  Participants outlined how in difficult economic times, government should be investing in what works. Services should be provided by organisations that can deliver the best results in the most effective way rather than simply protecting what already exists.  

Other participants stressed the need for joined-up thinking across departments when it comes to taking work forward and also when administering cuts in expenditure. Contributors added that this joined up thinking should also take into account the resources and expertise the voluntary and community sector can bring to the table.
 
There was a strong call for more information on the current situation as most voluntary and community organisations present were struggling to get a real picture of what was going on. This applied to all departments not just DHSSPS. 

NICVA Chief Executive Seamus McAleavey summed up the thoughts of many in the room when he remarked that the drip feeding of information into the public domain didn’t allow people to get a full picture of what decisions are being made and how each decision will impact on each other.  Seamus said most people were aware that difficult decisions had to be made but if people are not given the full picture then it feels like death by a thousand cuts – and each one is likely to be resisted.
 
CMO Michael McBride said that everyone involved in health faces a collective challenge and this meeting was the beginning of a process of discussion and information sharing with voluntary and community organisations. It was agreed that another meeting would be called at the end of June following the budget announcement to continue the current discussion.
 
Speaking after the meeting Seamus McAleavey said:  "Tonight's discussion was useful, pragmatic and offered challenges to both voluntary and community organisations and the officials present. NICVA welcomes the commitment of the Minister and his officials to engaging with the voluntary and community sector and we look forward to continuing this dialogue over the coming months. NICVA will also be contacting other departments and offering them the opportunity to discuss the current situation with voluntary and community organisations active in their areas of responsibility."