Background and Policy Objectives
3.Both the Donaldson Report (2014) and the Review of Health and Social Care Commissioning Arrangements (2015) identified a number of weaknesses within the existing system including overly complex and bureaucratic structures, a lack of clarity in relation to accountability and decision making, and a lack of challenge to providers.
4.Former Minister Hamilton announced his intention to close the Regional Health and Social Care Board (“the Regional Board”) in 2015. Subsequently, former Minister O’Neill confirmed the decision to close the Board in October 2016 as part of the wider transformation of the HSC as set out in Health & Wellbeing 2026: Delivering Together. In 2020, Minister Swann further confirmed the decision to close the Board.
5.The Regional Board was established by primary legislation (the Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009) and primary legislation is needed to close it and transfer its legislative functions.