Northern Trust wants to hear from you — and your views could help shape the future of health and care services
- Love Ballymena
- 5 minutes ago
- 3 min read
People across Ballymena, Antrim, Kilrea, Glenarm and the wider Northern Trust area are being invited to help shape the future of health and social care in Northern Ireland through a major new public engagement programme launched by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt.
Known as ‘This is Our Health’, the initiative aims to start a wide-ranging conversation about what people need from health and social care services and the role communities themselves can play in improving health outcomes.
The programme comes at a time when pressures on health services remain significant and policymakers continue to explore how better health can be supported not only through hospitals and clinics, but also through homes, families and local communities.
Looking beyond hospitals and healthcare settings
The Northern Trust says the conversation is based on a simple but important reality: most of what influences a person’s health happens long before they come into contact with health and social care services.
Factors such as family life, housing, employment, education, community connections and lifestyle choices all play a major role in determining how healthy people are and how well they live.
At the same time, the Trust acknowledges there are critical moments when health and social care services are essential and must be able to respond quickly, effectively and reliably.
The engagement programme is designed to explore both sides of that equation and identify where individuals, communities and services can each make the greatest difference.
Creating a new ‘health and care deal’
Launched by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, the initiative seeks to establish what is being described as a new “health and care deal” between Northern Ireland citizens and the Health and Social Care system.
The goal is to identify what people value most from health services while also examining how citizens can help support healthier communities and contribute to making services work more effectively.
Organisers hope the feedback gathered will help inform future thinking around healthcare delivery, prevention, wellbeing and community support across Northern Ireland.
How local people can take part
Residents can contribute in a number of ways, with organisers emphasising that participation has been designed to be straightforward and accessible.
The online engagement platform allows people to:
• Answer the same core questions used during face-to-face sessions
• Participate anonymously if they wish
• Complete the survey at a time that suits them
• Share their views using their own device
• Take part through a simple and accessible process
People wishing to participate online can complete the survey at:
Drop-in events planned across the Northern Trust area
As well as the online survey, a series of in-person events will take place across the Trust area over the coming weeks.
The sessions are intended to be informal and accessible, using conversation and practical engagement tools to help people share their views and experiences.
No booking is required, with members of the public encouraged to simply drop in and take part.
Upcoming events include:
• Thursday 18 June – Hutchinson’s Engineering, Kilrea
• Saturday 20 June – Ballymena PRIDE, Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena
• Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 June – Tedberry Market, Glenarm Castle & Garden, Glenarm
• Tuesday 30 June – Antrim Area Hospital canteen
• Thursday 2 July – Ballymena Health Centre foyer
The Trust has also confirmed that additional targeted engagement sessions for specific groups will be held between now and July.
Why the conversation matters
Health officials believe long-term improvements in public health will require more than investment in healthcare services alone.
The engagement programme seeks to understand how communities and public services can work together to improve health, reduce preventable illness and help people live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives.
For residents across the Northern Trust area, the initiative offers an opportunity to influence discussions that could help shape future approaches to health and social care in Northern Ireland.
Further information about the programme is available at:
The Northern Trust is encouraging as many people as possible to take part, with feedback gathered over the coming weeks expected to contribute to wider conversations about the future direction of health and care services across Northern Ireland.