Health and Social Care Regulators from across the UK held an information and networking event at Parliament Buildings in Stormont on Tuesday 2 June. The event focused on how health and social care regulators, Government and the public can work together to keep people safe. Joined by the Minister for Health Social Services and Public Safety, Simon Hamilton MLA, the well-attended event provided an excellent opportunity for knowledge exchange and learning.
Speaking after the event, Dr Jim Livingstone, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland, which hosted this year’s event, said:
“I was extremely pleased the Minister for Health Social Services and Public Safety, Simon Hamilton, was able to join Health and Social Care Regulators today for this important annual event.
“At some point in our lives we will all use health services and people quite rightly expect to receive safe and high quality care when they do. Professional and Social Care regulators play a vital role in keeping the public safe and we have learned in the last number of years that listening to the public and working more closely with each other can greatly improve outcomes – this is what today has been all about.
“Devolution has also changed the landscape of the health system and it is important that Regulators are listening to the experiences of patients in the different regions of the UK and working with devolved institutions to get the right results.
“Today’s event allowed regulators to renew their commitment to working with the public, with each other and with devolved institutions to ensure patient safety is at the forefront of all their work.
In welcoming the opportunity to speak at the event Health Minister, Simon Hamilton said: “the role of statutory regulators and the framework of regulation which they help enforce are key components in assuring the high quality health and social care service which our HSC delivers to the population of Northern Ireland”.