Health Minister today reaffirmed his
commitment to tackling health inequalities across Northern
Ireland as he addressed a Primary Care Health Inequalities
Symposium in Ballymena.
The event, organised by Public Health Agency (PHA), The Royal
College of General Practitioners (RCGPNI) and Queen's University
Belfast, brought together healthcare professionals and
policymakers to discuss the role of primary care in
addressing disparities in health outcomes. The Minister
highlighted the Making Life Better public health strategy, which
sets out a whole Executive approach to tackling the social,
economic and environmental factors that contribute to poor health
in the most deprived communities.
Minister Nesbitt said: “Health inequalities remain one of
the greatest challenges we face in Northern Ireland. Where
someone is born, grows up, lives, and works should not determine
their health outcomes - yet we know that in our most deprived
communities, people are more likely to experience poorer health,
shorter life expectancy, and greater barriers to accessing care.
That is why my department is committed to targeted, place-based
solutions that bring health support directly to those who need it
most. The Live Better initiative is a key step in this journey,
ensuring we work alongside communities to address health
inequalities at their source.”
The Live Better programme, launched under Minister Nesbitt's
leadership is currently being piloted in Belfast (Court DEA) and
Derry/Londonderry (Moor DEA). It builds on existing public health
initiatives by delivering targeted interventions, improving
access to healthcare services, and strengthening community
partnerships to address the root causes of poor health outcomes.
During the symposium, a session titled “Live Better –
Strengthening Relationships with Communities” explored the role
of GP practices as hubs for tackling health inequalities.
Minister Nesbitt recognised the vital role of primary care in
early intervention and prevention, ensuring that health support
reaches those in greatest need before conditions worsen.
The Minister also outlined his three-year strategy to stabilise,
reform and deliver primary care services, which included the
phased expansion of Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDTs) across
Northern Ireland. He confirmed that by April 2025, a roadmap
would be published to guide the rollout of MDTs, prioritising GP
practices in the most deprived areas.
He also acknowledged the Deep End approach, a model successfully
implemented in Scotland and confirmed that his department would
explore how similar initiatives could support Northern Ireland's
most vulnerable communities.
Closing his speech, Minister Nesbitt reinforced his department's
commitment to reducing health inequalities through collaborative,
community-driven healthcare solutions:
“We must move beyond a one size fits all approach to
healthcare. Tackling health inequalities requires a united effort
- one that brings together government, health professionals and
communities to create lasting change. Through Making Life Better,
Live Better, and the expansion of Multi-Disciplinary Teams, we
are taking the necessary steps to build a fairer, healthier
future for everyone in Northern Ireland.”
Heather Reid, Interim Director of Nursing at the Public Health
Agency, said: “GPs work at the heart of our communities and are
key in addressing health inequalities. Alongside the ongoing work
in the Live Better demonstration areas, events like this
symposium are providing opportunities for organisations to
come together to collaborate, share information and generate
ideas on community-centred approaches to help support people who
are impacted the most by health inequalities.”
Bringing the event to a close, Dr Ursula Mason, RCGPNI Chair
said: "Reducing the increasing gap in health inequalities is one
of our College's key priorities. We want every
patient to be able to receive the best care possible despite
their circumstances, background, or characteristics, and to
ensure that general practice as an anchor institution within our
communities can continue to champion the reduction of these
inequalities. Support for Deep End projects, which bring together
GPs working in areas of socio-economic deprivation to identify
practical ways to address health inequalities and to learn from
one another, can be a real driver for positive change, for
patients and their communities."
