Health Minister launches “Reset Plan” to reshape Northern Ireland’s health and social care system
- Love Ballymena
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt
Health and social care services in Northern Ireland are entering a ‘watershed’ year, with the Department of Health unveiling a bold “reset plan” to tackle deep financial pressures and reshape service delivery.
Published today by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, the reset plan prioritises a neighbourhood-based model of care, aiming to bring more services closer to local communities.
The plan outlines sweeping reforms against the backdrop of a projected £600 million funding gap, which threatens the sustainability of existing services.
The plan builds on the Minister’s December 2024 three-year strategic framework centred around Stabilisation, Reform and Delivery, and now introduces “the most ambitious efficiency programme” in Northern Ireland’s Health and Social Care (HSC) history.
“This is a defining and watershed year for our health service,” said Minister Nesbitt. “We have to deliver on reform and waiting list investment, while at the same time securing efficiencies and savings on a scale not seen before. There are both challenges and opportunities of huge significance.”
Neighbourhood care at the heart of reform
The centrepiece of the strategy is a shift towards neighbourhood care, focusing on early intervention and a new model of primary care.
“At the heart of the reform agenda must be concrete progress on neighbourhood care, bringing more services as close as possible to people’s front doors,” the Minister explained.
“This neighbourhood approach will help tackle health inequalities, and support individuals to look after their own health and well-being.”
The strategy also acknowledges that health outcomes depend on broader factors such as education, housing and employment, calling for cross-government collaboration to improve well-being.
Major efficiency drive to save £300 million
The plan outlines an aggressive efficiency programme intended to save £300 million in 2025/26, following on from £200 million already saved in 2024/25. Key actions include:
Tightening Trust financial controls
Reducing agency and locum costs
Tackling staff absence rates
Minimising clinical variation and procurement inefficiencies
Optimising medicines expenditure
Cutting administrative and central budget costs
Increasing revenue through research and innovation
“The reset plan includes new structures to enable our Trusts to take shared decisions on a ‘whole system’ basis,” said Minister Nesbitt.
“A new approach to Systems Financial Management is being introduced, with a focus on reducing the budget deficit and driving efficiencies in every area of the system, at every level.”
This work will be led by a Systems Management Oversight Group, chaired by Department of Health Permanent Secretary Mike Farrar.
A seven-pillar strategy for long-term reform
The reset plan identifies seven key areas to deliver long-term transformation:
Prevention and empowering citizens
Investment in primary, community and social care, including joined-up mental, physical and social healthcare
Maximum efficiency with existing resources
Whole-system optimisation of workforce and estate
Digital investment and data strategy
Research and early adoption of medical innovation
Collaborative structures and shared decision-making
Waiting list investment remains a priority
A separate Implementation and Funding Plan, published in May, details targeted investment to reduce waiting lists—one of the central commitments of the Programme for Government. More info here.
The full Health and Social Care Reset Plan is now available via the Department of Health website.