Northern Ireland Assembly Flax Flower Logo

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE (REFORM) BILL

EXPLANATORY AND FINANCIAL MEMORANDUM

INTRODUCTION

1. This Explanatory and Financial Memorandum has been prepared by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in order to assist the reader of the Bill and to help inform debate on it. It does not form part of the Bill and has not been endorsed by the Assembly.

2. The Memorandum needs to be read in conjunction with the Bill. It does not, and is not meant to be, a comprehensive description of the Bill. So where a clause or part of a clause or schedule does not seem to require an explanation or comment, none is given.

BACKGROUND AND POLICY OBJECTIVES

3. The rationale behind the reform of the health and social care system is to put in place structures which are patient-led, patient-centred and responsive to the needs of patients, clients and carers as well as being more effective and efficient (releasing resources for investment in front line health and social care).

4. The purpose of the Bill will be to provide the legislative framework within which the proposed new health and social care structures can operate. It seeks to set out, as transparently as possible, the high level functions of the various health and social care bodies. The Bill seeks, either within the body of the Bill or by securing sufficient powers to make subordinate legislation, to establish the parameters within which each health and social care body will be permitted to operate and to establish the necessary governance and accountability arrangements which will support the effective delivery of health and social care in Northern Ireland.

CONSULTATION

5. A formal consultation exercise on the policy proposals informing the draft Health and Social Care (Reform) Bill was carried out during the period from 18 February 2008 until 12 May 2008. A list of the range of interests consulted is provided at Appendix 1 to this memorandum. Over the 12 week period the consultation process was informed by a considerable number of workshops with HSC organisations, the Voluntary and Community sector, the Department and one on Public Health. In addition, various meetings have taken place with a wide range of stakeholders including – HSS Councils, Trades Unions, the Assembly HSSPS Committee, NI Local Government Association, Directorate of Information Systems, Family Practitioners Services, Superannuation Branch, NI Confederation, Regulation and Improvement Authority, Health Promotion Agency, General Practitioners Commission, Royal College of GPs, Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, British Dental Association, and the Omnibus Partnership. Over 200 formal responses to the consultation were received. In general, there were many positive comments that welcomed the proposals for health and social care reform. A range of issues and suggestions were also highlighted and have been extremely helpful in informing consideration of the detail of the proposals.

OPTIONS CONSIDERED

6. The provision of health and social care in Northern Ireland is currently provided for by the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 (the 1972 Order). The 1972 Order is now some 36 years old and has been significantly amended over the years. One option was to introduce a new single piece of primary legislation in order to consolidate all existing enactments as was the case in England and Wales. The timescale within which the new arrangements need to be in place, however, prevented such an all-embracing approach.

7. Another approach would have been to replace the delegation model which underpins the existing legislation. In this model, all the functions are cascaded down from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to HSC organisations. The alternative would involve defining the functions of the new bodies on the face of the proposed Bill. Such a rigidly defined approach would, however, have been problematic given the breadth of functions which need to be defined at each level of the system and the pace of change in the way health and social care is delivered.

OVERVIEW

8. The Bill has 35 clauses and 7 Schedules. It comprises 10 headings: Restructuring of administration of health and social care – covers the restructuring of health and social care bodies; Department’s role in promoting and providing health and social care – consists of 5 clauses and outlines the general duties, powers and priorities of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (“the Department”); The Regional Board - consists of 5 clauses and provides for the establishment of the Regional Health and Social Care Board. It also covers the functions of the Regional Board and outlines its objectives; Regional Agency- consists of 2 clauses and provides for the establishment of the Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being; RBSO - consists of 2 clauses and provides for the establishment of the Regional Business Services Organisation; Patient representation and public involvement – establishes the Patient and Client Council, covers the functions of the Patient and Client Council and deals with the need for health and social care bodies to consult with service users and produce consultation schemes; HSC trusts – places a duty on HSC trusts in relation to the improvement of health and social well-being; Public-private partnerships – provides for the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, the Regional Health and Social Care Board, the Health and Social Care trusts, the RBSO, special agencies and the Regional Agency to form, or participate in forming, public-private partnerships; Transfer of assets, liabilities and functions - deals with the dissolution of various health and social care bodies and the transfer of assets, liabilities and functions; Supplementary – provides for the Department to make supplementary provisions as it thinks necessary and makes general provisions in respect of subordinate legislation, amendments and repeals. It also sets out the title and commencement dates and includes interpretation provisions.

9. Schedule 1 sets out the constitution of the Regional Health and Social Care Board, Schedule 2 covers the establishment of the Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being , Schedule 3 provides for the establishment of the Regional Business Services Organisation, Schedule 4 covers the establishment of the Patient and Client Council, Schedule 5 provides for the transfer of assets and liabilities and outlines the arrangements for the completion of annual reports and accounts of dissolved bodies. Schedule 6 deals with minor and consequential amendments to other legislation and Schedule 7 deals with repeals of other legislation.

COMMENTARY ON CLAUSES

A commentary on the provisions follows below. Comments are not given where the wording is self-explanatory.

Clause 1: Restructuring of administration of health and social care

Provides for the restructuring of the administration of health and social care. It provides for the dissolution of the Health and Social Services Councils Central Services Agency, Health and Social Services Boards, and Mental Health Commission. It also provides that Health and Social Services trusts will be known as Health and Social Care trusts, special health and social services agencies will be known as special health and social care agencies, and the Health and Personal Social Services Regulation and Improvement Authority will be known as the Health and Social Care Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority.

Clause 2: Department’s general duty

Sets out the Department’s general duty in relation to the provision of health and social care in Northern Ireland. For example, the Department has the duty to promote an integrated system of health and social care designed to secure improvement in the physical and mental health and social well-being of people in Northern Ireland. Among other things, the Department also has a duty to develop policies for reducing health inequalities between the people in Northern Ireland

Clause 3: Department’s general power

Sets out the Department’s general power and provides that the Department may provide or secure the provision of such health and social care as it considers appropriate to the discharge of its duty.

Clause 4: Department’s priorities and objectives

Requires the Department to determine and, where appropriate, revise priorities and objectives in relation to the provision of health and social care. In setting such objectives, there is an onus on the Department to consult with such bodies or persons as it considers appropriate. The clause also provides the Department with the power to give directions without consulting in cases where the urgency of the matter necessitates it but requires the Department in cases where the duty to consult has been set aside because of the urgency of the matter, to report retrospectively to all appropriate bodies or persons as to its reason for taking this course of action.

Clause 5: The framework document

Requires the Department to prepare a framework document which sets out the main priorities, objectives, guidance and other matters for each health and social care body in connection with the carrying out of its functions. The Department must also keep the framework document under review and may, from time to time, revise it.

Clause 6: Power of Department to give directions to certain bodies

Provides a power for the Department to give directions (either general or specific) to the Regional Health and Social Care Board, Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being and Regional Business Services Organisation as to how they should carry out their functions. The Department is also required to consult with those bodies before issuing directions but the clause also provides the Department with the power to give directions without consulting in cases where the urgency of the matter necessitates it but requires the Department in cases where the duty to consult has been set aside because of the urgency of the matter, to report retrospectively to all appropriate bodies or persons as to its reason for taking this course of action.

Clause 7: The Regional Health and Social Care Board

Provides for the establishment of the Regional Health and Social Care Board (Regional Board). It also introduces Schedule 1 which deals with the constitution of the Regional Board and also covers supplementary provisions including committees, sub-committees, finance and accounts of the Regional Board.

Clause 8: Functions of the Regional Board

Sets out the functions of the Regional Board as being those transferred to it from existing Health and Social Services Boards and any other functions which the Department directs it to exercise.

Clause 9: Local Commissioning Groups

Requires the Regional Board to appoint a prescribed number of Local Commissioning Groups and provides that in exercising their functions, these groups should have regard to, inter alia, improving the health and well-being of people in the area within which the Local Commissioning Group exercises its functions and improving the availability and quality of health and social care in that area.

Clause 10: Power of Regional Board to give directions and guidance to HSC trusts

Provides a power for the Regional Board to issue guidance to Health and Social Care trusts as to how they are to carry out all their functions and, where a Trust fails to have regard to such guidance, to issue directions (either general or specific) to that Trust as to the manner in which it should carry out that function.

Clause 11: Provision of information, etc. to Regional Board by HSC trusts

Requires Health and Social Care trusts to provide the Regional Board with relevant information and reports in relation to their functions. The clause also provides that the information must be recorded in such a form and kept for such a time as the Regional Board may require.

Clause 12: The Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being

Provides for the establishment of the Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being. It also introduces Schedule 2 which deals with the constitution of the Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being and covers supplementary provisions including its committees, sub-committees, finance and accounts.

Clause 13: Functions of the Regional Agency

Sets out the functions of the Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being in relation to the areas of health improvement and health protection. The clause also provides that in exercising its functions, the Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being must co-operate with other bodies which exercise functions relating to health improvement or protection.

Clause 14: The Regional Business Services Organisation

Provides for the establishment of the Regional Business Services Organisation. It also introduces Schedule 3 which deals with the constitution of the Regional Business Services Organisation and covers supplementary provisions including its committees, sub-committees, finance and accounts.

Clause 15: Functions of RBSO

Sets out the functions of the Regional Business Services Organisation and places a duty on the Regional BusinessServices Organisation to put in place arrangements which will secure the provision of those services in the most economic, efficient and effective way.

Clause 16: The Patient and Client Council

Provides for the establishment of the Patient and Client Council. It also introduces Schedule 4 which sets out detailed arrangements for the operation of the Patient and Client Council, and deals with its status, constitution, remuneration, staffing, procedures, finance and annual reports.

Clause 17: Functions of the Patient and Client Council

Sets out the functions and certain requirements placed on the Patient and Client Council. These functions include: representing the interests of the public, promoting the involvement of the public, providing assistance to individuals making or intending to make a complaint relating to health and social care and promoting the provision by the Department and health and social care bodies of advice and information to the public about the design, commissioning and delivery of health and social care. The clause also provides that the Patient and Client Council shall carry out research into the best methods for consulting with the public about involving them in health and social care and to provide advice about these methods to certain health and social care bodies.

Clause 18: Duty to co-operate with the Patient and Client Council

Requires certain health and social care bodies to co-operate with the Patient and Client Council in carrying out its functions. Furthermore, it requires those health and social care bodies to have due regard to advice provided by the Patient and Client Council about the health and social care for which that particular body is responsible.

Clause 19: Public involvement and consultation

Requires the Department, Regional Health and Social Care Board, Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being, Health and Social Care trusts, and special agencies to promote information about the health and social care for which they are responsible and to seek views from the recipients of health and social care either directly or through representative bodies. It also requires the health and social care bodies to prepare a consultation scheme in accordance with clause 20.

Clause 20: Public involvement: consultation schemes

Requires the Department, Regional Health and Social Care Board, Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being, Health and Social Care trusts, and special agencies to show, in their consultation schemes, what arrangements are in place to consult with the Patient and Client Council and recipients of health and social care. The consultation scheme will also need to prepare a written statement which summarises the comments received and sets out the health and social care body’s response to those comments.

Clause 21: Duty on HSCtrusts in relation to improvement of health and social well-being

Places a duty on each HSC trust to exercise its functions with the aim of improving the health and social well-being of those for whom it provides or may provide health and social care.

Clause 22: Public-private partnerships

Enables the Department, and certain health and social care bodies to form, or participate in forming, public-private partnerships to provide facilities or services for the promotion or provision of health and social care.

Clause 23: Schemes for transfer of assets and liabilities

Requires the Department to make a scheme or schemes for the transfer of assets and liabilities of a health and social care body that has been dissolved. It also introduces Schedule 5 which deals the transfer of assets and liabilities and outlines the arrangements for the completion of annual reports and accounts of health and social care bodies that have been dissolved.

Clause 24: Transfer of functions of Health and Social Services Boards

Provides for the transfer of certain functions of the existing Health and Social Services Boards to the Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being or to the Regional Health and Social Care Board.

Clause 25: Transfer of functions of the Mental Health Commission

Provides for the transfer of the functions exercisable by the Mental Health Commission to the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority.

Clause 26: Transfer of functions of Central Services Agency

Provides for the transfer of the functions exercisable by the Central Services Agency to the Regional BusinessServices Organisation.

Clause 27: Amendment of statutory and other references to dissolved bodies, etc

Applies to clauses 24, 25 and 26 and deals with amendments to any statutory and other references to health and social care bodies that have been dissolved.

Clause 28: Dissolution of special agencies

Provides for the dissolution of special agencies.

Clause 29: Orders, regulations, guidance and directions

Contains provision about the procedure for making subordinate legislation under the Bill and provides that any guidance issued or directions given by the Department may be varied or revoked by subsequent guidance or directions.

Clause 30: Further provision

Allows the Department to make further provision in connection with implementing the Bill.

Clause 31: Interpretation

Applies the Interpretation Act ( Northern Ireland) 1954 to the Bill and defines other terms.

Clause 32: Minor and consequential amendments

Introduces Schedule 6 which deals with amendments to other legislation as a result of the Bill.

Clause 33: Repeals

Introduces Schedule 7 which contains repeals of other legislation as a result of the Bill.

Clause 34: Commencement

Stipulates when the provisions of the Bill will come into operation either from a date set out in the Bill or a date subsequently decided by the Department.

Clause 35: Short title

Sets out the title of the Bill.

FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF THE BILL

10. The Review of Public Administration will produce a reduction of management and administrative costs. It is anticipated that the overall savings target could amount to reductions in administrative costs in excess of more than £53 million by April 2011, to be re-invested in front line services.

HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES

11. The provisions of the Bill are compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.

EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT

12. The consultationdocument included an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) which concluded that, although the proposals may have an adverse impact on some of the section 75 groups, procedures would be designed to ensure that there is no unlawful direct or indirect discrimination against any particular individual or group. To further inform the Department’s information in this regard, the implications of the proposals in terms of equality, and the availability of evidence, were specifically addressed in the questions posed in the Consultation Response Questionnaire. Equality was also a significant element of the workshops hosted by the Department during the consultation. These included sessions organised by the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) and the Community Development and Health Network (CDHN) which involved a broad range of community and voluntary representatives and section 75 groups. The outcome of the workshops and the responses to the consultation in terms of equality have been carefully considered to inform decisions on the proposals, and further screening will be undertaken as appropriate on issues such as location.

SUMMARY OF THE REGULATORY IMPACT ASSESSMENT

13. As the Bill imposes no costs or savings, or negligible costs or savings on business, charities, social economy enterprises or the voluntary sector, a Regulatory Impact Appraisal was not considered necessary.

LEGISLATIVE COMPETENCE

14. The Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety had made the following statement under section 9 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998:

“In my view the Health and Social Care (Reform) Bill would be within the legislative competence of the Northern Ireland Assembly.”

SECRETARY OF STATE CONSENT

15. A statement is required under section 10(3)(b) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, on Secretary of State consent:

"The Secretary of State has consented under section 10(3)(b) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to the Assembly considering this Bill."

RANGE OF INTERESTS CONSULTED

APPENDIX 1

Abbeyfield Society (NI Region)

AIDS Helpline

Accident Medical Negligence Association

Accord Catholic Marriage Counselling Service

Action Cancer

Action Mental Health

Action MS

Action on Elder Abuse

Adopt

Advice NI

Afro-Asian Residents Group NI

Age Concern (NI)

Age Sector Reference Group

Al-Anon Family Group

Al-Nisa Association

Alcohol Awareness for Youth

Amalgamated Transport & GW Union

Alzheimer’s Society

Amicus

An Munia Tober

Animate Project

Arthritis Research Campaign

Arthritis Care (NI)

Asthma UK NI

Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus

Association of Crossroads Care Attendants Schemes

Association of Directors of Social Services

Association of Executive Directors of Social Work

Association of Independent Advice Centres

Association of Local Authorities in Northern Ireland

Association of Northern Ireland Colleges

Association of Trust Directors of Social Work

 

Baptist Union of Ireland

Barnardos

Beeches Management Centre

Belfast Brook Advisory Centre

Belfast Hebrew Congregation

Blind Centre for Northern Ireland

Belfast Outreach Centre

Belfast Pride

Belfast Solicitors Association

Board of Social Witness, Presbyterian Church in Ireland

British Association of Social Workers (NI)

British Deaf Association (NI)

British Dental Association

British Diabetic Association

British Dietetic Association

British Fluoridation Society

British Geriatric Society (NI)

British Orthoptic Society

British Psychological Society (NI Branch) (for health matters relating to Psychology only)

British Red Cross

Bryson House

British Medical Association (NI)

Butterfly Club

 

Cancer Relief – Macmillan Fund

Carafriend

Care for NI

Carers National Association (NI)

Catholic Bishops of Northern Ireland

Cedar Foundation

Central Personal Social Services Advisory

Central Services Agency

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

Chief Officers 3 rd Sector (CO3)

Child Action Prevention Trust

Child Care (NI) Centre

Child Poverty Action Group

Children in NI

Children’s Day Nursery Association

Children’s Law Centre

Chinese Welfare Association

Church of Ireland Board for Social Responsibility (NI)

Clerk of Petty Sessions (Laganside Courts)

Coalition on Sexual Orientation (COSO)

College of Occupational Therapists

Committee for the Administration of Justice (CAJ)

Community Addiction Team

Community Development and Health Network

Community Evaluation (NI)

Community Information Network NI (CINNI)

Community Foundation for Northern Ireland

Community Relations Council

Community Work Education and Training Network

Confederation of British Industry (NI Branch)

Confederation of Community Groups

Conservation Volunteers (NI)

Co-operation Ireland

Corrymeela Community

Councils – City, District and Borough (26 of)

Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS)

Council for the Advancement of Communication with Deaf People

Council for the Homeless

Council on Social Responsibility, Methodist Church in Ireland

Counteract

Craigavon Asian Women’s Centre

Craigavon Chinese Community Association

Craigavon Vietnamese Club

Cruse Bereavement Care

 

Derry Travellers Support Group

Derry Well Women

Diabetes UK

Disability Action

Down Cardiac Support Group

Down & Connor Family Ministry

Downs Syndrome Association

Dunlevey Substance Advice Centre

 

East Belfast Community Development Agency

Economic Research Institute for Northern Ireland (ERINI)

Education and Library Boards (5 of)

Employers’ Forum on Disability

Equality 2000

Equality Commission

Equality Forum (NI)

European Infertility Network Ltd

Executive Council of the Inn of Court of NI

Extern Organisation

Extra Care

 

Faculty of Accident & Emergency Medicine

Falls Community Council

Family Care Society

Family Planning Association NI

Federation of Small Businesses

Fermanagh Women’s Network

Fire Brigade Union

First Key (NI)

Food Standards Agency

Food Safety Promotion Board

Forum for Action on Substance Abuse

Forum for Community Work Education (NI)

Fostering Network NI

Four Seasons Healthcare

Foyle Down’s Syndrome Trust

Foyle Friend

Foyle Women’s Aid

 

Gay and Lesbian Youth Northern Ireland

General Consumer Council for NI

General Medical Council

Gingerbread Northern Ireland

GMB Union

Guide Dogs for the Blind Association

Guild of Healthcare Pharmacists

 

Harmony Community Trust

Health Promotion Agency

Health and Social Services Boards (4 of)

Health and Social Services Councils (4 of)

Health and Social Care Trusts (6 of)

Help the Aged

His Eminence the Archbishop of Armagh

HM Council of County Court Judges

Home Start (NI)

Human Rights Commission

 

Include Youth

Independent Living Fund

Indian Community Care

Inland Revenue

Institute of Directors ( Northern Ireland)

Institute of Professional Legal Studies

Institute of Public Health

Irish Congress of Trade Unions – NI Committee

Issue, the National Fertility Association

 

Japan Society of NI

Judicial Appointments Commission

 

La Societa Italiana Irlanda Del Norde

Law Centre (NI)

Law Reform Advisory Committee

Law Society of NI

Lesbian Line

Life (NI)

 

Manufacturing Science & Finance Union

Marie Curie Cancer Care (Belfast)

Mediation NI

MENCAP

Mental Health Commission

Ministry of Defence

Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland

Moore, Tim (Research & Library Services, Northern Ireland Assembly)

Mulholland After-Care Services

Multi-Cultural Group

Multi-Cultural Resource Centre

Multiple Sclerosis Society (NI)

 

National Deaf Children’s Society

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)

Nevis Healthcare

NEWPIN (Foyle NI)

Newry and Mourne Senior Citizens’ Consortium

Newry and Mourne Women

Newtownabbey Senior Citizens’ Forum

Nexus Institute for NI

NIPSA

North West Community Network

North West Ethnic Communities Association

North West Forum of People with Disabilities

Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, House of Commons

Northern Ireland African Cultural Centre

Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network

Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health

Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NIACRO)

Northern Ireland Association of GP Fundholding Practices

Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Agency

Northern Ireland Cancer Registry

Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce

Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke Association

Northern Ireland Child Minding Association (NICMA)

Northern Ireland Citizens Advice Bureau

Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People

Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Services

Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities (NICEM)

Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA)

Northern Ireland Council on Alcohol

Northern Ireland Court Service

Northern Ireland Deaf Youth Association

Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations

Northern Ireland Federation of Private Members Non Profit making, Sports, Social &

Recreational Clubs

Northern Ireland Filipino Association

Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue

Northern Ireland Foster Care Association (NIFCA)

Northern Ireland Gay Rights Association (NIGRA)

Northern Ireland Government Departments Permanent Secretaries

Northern Ireland Guardian Ad Litem Agency

Northern Ireland Home Accident Prevention Council

Northern Ireland Hospice

Northern Ireland Local Government Association

Northern Ireland Regional Medical Physics Agency

Northern Ireland Medical & Dental Training Agency (NIMDTA)

Northern Ireland Members of the House of Lords

Northern Ireland Mother and Baby Action

Northern Ireland MPs, MEPs, MLAs

Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust

Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Ombudsman

Northern Ireland Political Party Leaders

Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council (NIPEC)

Northern Ireland Practice Managers Association

Northern Ireland Pre-School Playgroups Association (NIPPA)

Northern Ireland Resident Magistrates’ Association

Northern Ireland Social Care Council

Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)

Northern Ireland Student Centre

Northern Ireland Volunteer Development Agency

Northern Ireland Women’s Aid Federation

Northern Ireland Women’s European Platform (NIWEP)

Northern Ireland Youth Forum

NUSUI Student Movement

 

Office of Fair Trading

Office of Law Reform

Office of the Legislative Counsel

Omagh Ethnics Support Group

Omagh Women’s Area Network

 

Pakistani Community Association

Parents and Professionals and Autism (PAPA)

Parents Advice Centre (PAC)

Participation & Practice of Rights Project

Pharmaceutical Contractors’ Committee (NI)

Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland

Physically Handicapped and Able-Bodied (PHAB)

PlayBoard NI

POBAL

Press for Change

PRAXIS Mental Health

Public Sector Support Services Forum (PSSSF)

 

Queen’s University of Belfast, School of Law

Queer Space

 

Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre

Registered Nursing Home Association

Regulation & Quality Improvement Authority

Relate

Royal British Legion

Royal College of Anaesthetists

Royal College of General Practitioners (NI)

Royal College of Midwives

Royal College of Nursing ( Northern Ireland)

Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists

Royal College of Ophthalmologists

Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health

Royal College of Pathologists

Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Glasgow

Royal College of Physicians

Royal College of Physicians in Ireland

Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

Royal College of Psychiatrists

Royal College of Radiologists

Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists

Royal College of Surgeons

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in Northern Ireland

Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID)

Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB)

Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA)

Rural Community Network

Rural Development Council

Rural Support

 

Salvation Army District Office

Samaritans

Save the Children Fund

Sense (National Deaf-Blind and Rubella Association)

Shelter

Sikh Cultural Centre

Simon Community

Social Care Association (NI)

Society of Local Authority Chief Executives

The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists

Society of Radiographers

Society of St Vincent de Paul

Sperrin Lakeland Senior Citizens’ Consortium

Staff Commission for Education and Library Boards

 

The Baptist Centre

The Most Reverend, The Lord Archbishop of Armagh

The Society & College of Radiographers

Threshold

Traveller Movement (NI)

Twins and Multiple Births Association (TAMBA)

 

Ulster Cancer Foundation

Ulster Chemists Association

Ulster Institute for the Deaf

Ulster Quaker Service Committee

Unison

University of Ulster, School of Law

 

Voice of Young People in Care (NI)

Voluntary Services Belfast (VSB)

 

West Belfast Economic Forum

Westminster Spokespersons for Northern Ireland

Women into Politics

Women’s Information Group

Women’s Resource and Development Agency

Women’s Support Network

 

Young Help Trust

Youth Council for Northern Ireland