Public Consultation For NI's HSC R&D

Newly-appointed Health Minister Jim Wells has launched a public consultation on a draft strategy for Health and Social Care Research and Development in Northern Ireland.

In a statement, the aim of the strategy is said to ensure the health, wellbeing and prosperity of the region's population, who will benefit from excellent, world-renowned R&D in health and social care which is led from NI.

Commenting on the consultation, Minister Well said: "My aim is to increase research and development that delivers improvements in health and social care in Northern Ireland and beyond.

"That is why I am seeking the views of everyone on this draft strategy that has been developed by the collaboration of healthcare professionals, academics, charitable and voluntary organisations, private companies and informed by an international advisory group.

"This is an important piece of work, as a successful strategy will propel NI to the forefront of Research and Development in Health and Social Care settings throughout the world."

The exercise has also taken into account a report commissioned by former Health Minister Edwin Poots in 2012, on the Evaluation of the Impact of HSC Research and Development (R&D). That report included a number of recommendations for the new Strategy, such as increasing the profile of R&D within HSC organisations.

Michael McBride, Chief Medical Officer, said: "Research and development is an integral part of ensuring that the health and social care services we provide, both in HSC and primary care, are of the highest quality and informed by the best available, up-to-date evidence.

"Through world-renowned, high quality research in health and social care, conducted in Northern Ireland, the population not only benefits in terms of health and wellbeing, but also from the wider economic prosperity that it brings."

(JP/CD)