The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is one of
11 Northern Ireland Departments created in 1999 as part of the Northern Ireland Executive by the Northern
Ireland Act 1998 and the Departments (Northern Ireland) Order 1999.
Business Plan
The Department's Business Plan 2007/08 (PDF 236
KB) is available to download.
Mission Statement
The Department’s mission is to improve the health and social well-being
of the people of Northern Ireland. It endeavours to do so by ensuring the provision of appropriate
health and social care services, both in clinical settings such as hospitals and GPs’ surgeries, and
in the community through nursing, social work and other professional services. It also leads a
major programme of cross-government action to improve the health and well-being of the population and
reduce health inequalities. This includes interventions involving health promotion and education
to encourage people to adopt activities, behaviours and attitudes which lead to better health and well-being.
The aim is a population which is much more engaged in ensuring its own health and well-being.
Responsibilities
The Department has three main business responsibilities:
Health and Social Care (HSC), which includes policy
and legislation for hospitals, family practitioner services and community health and personal social
services;
Public Health, which covers policy, legislation
and administrative action to promote and protect the health and well-being of the population; and
Public Safety, which covers policy and legislation
for fire and rescue services.
Structure
The Permanent Secretary, Dr Andrew McCormick, is also Chief Executive
of the Health and Social Care system, as well as Principal Accounting Officer for all the Department’s
responsibilities. Within the Department, the key business groups are the Resources and Performance
Management Group, the Healthcare Policy Group, the Social Policy Group and the Office of the Chief Medical
Officer. The Department also has a Modernisation Directorate and a Human Resources Directorate.
The Department has one executive agency, the Northern Ireland Health and Social Services Estate Agency
(known as Health Estates). Additionally, until the necessary legislation is passed, the Health
and Social Care Authority (designate) is located within the Department.
Professional Groups
There are five professional groups within the department, each led by
a Chief Professional Officer:
- Medical and Allied Services - Dr Michael McBride
- Social Services Inspectorate - Mr Paul Martin
- Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Group - Mr Martin Bradley
- Dental Services - Mr Donnacha O'Carolan
- Pharmaceutical Advice and Services - Dr Norman Morrow
They provide advice to and discharge functions for
the Department on medical, nursing, dental, pharmaceutical and social work matters. They also provide
advice and services to the wider Northern Ireland Civil Service and the Prison Service in respect of
public health, medical and dental services.
