Information & Communications Technology Strategy (PDF 567 KB)

The Strategy has two major, interlocking themes for ICT development: Electronic Care Records and Electronic Care Communications. The emphasis of the Strategy is on these themes, but the importance of ICT as a means to access other information and the need to sustain and modernise ICT in other areas is also recognised. åÊ

Annual Report to the Equality Commission 03-04 (PDF 212 KB)

The Department’s Equality Scheme makes explicit the Minister’s and top management’s commitment to fulfil the Department’s statutory equality duties. This commitment is integrated into the Department’s work and clearly seen in its planning processes. Objectives and targets relating to Section 75 obligations feature in the Department’s strategic and operational plans, and the annual business plans of Directorates and Branches. Officials, where appropriate, include specific equality related targets or actions in their personal objectives which are subject to appraisal in the annual performance review. åÊ

DHSSPS Statutory Equality Duties 2003 - 2004 (PDF 212 KB)

The Department’s Equality Scheme makes explicit the Minister’s and top management’s commitment to fulfil the Department’s statutory equality duties. This commitment is integrated into the Department’s work and clearly seen in its planning processes. Objectives and targets relating to Section 75 obligations feature in the Department’s strategic and operational plans, and the annual business plans of Directorates and Branches. Officials, where appropriate, include specific equality related targets or actions in their personal objectives which are subject to appraisal in the annual performance review. åÊ

PHA - improving cardiovascular services

?The Public Health Agency has identified ways of delivering cardiovascular services that will help to tackle health inequalities. These are described in a new "health impact assessment" report, launched on 1 June at the Maureen Sheehan Centre, Belfast.The PHA, in partnership with a wide variety of community, voluntary and statutory bodies, leads the work to improve cardiovascular health and wellbeing, through better prevention and treatment services, delivered through a 'cardiovascular service framework'. The result of a wide consultation, this new report will help to improve the way those services are delivered by focusing on the needs of disadvantaged people.Explaining the importance of this work, Dr Adrian Mairs, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, PHA, said: "The Public Health Agency was set up to tackle health inequalities and promote better health and wellbeing across Northern Ireland. Despite many improvements in prevention and treatment, cardiovascular diseases remain the main cause of death in Northern Ireland. We know that these diseases, including heart disease, stroke, circulation problems, diabetes and renal disease have a greater and more severe impact on people living in poverty. "This work will help us to reduce the health inequalities that exist in our society by improving the way cardiovascular services are developed and delivered, eg ensuring stop smoking services meet local needs, identifying and treating high blood pressure, and helping people to take their medicines properly."The health impact assessment has been developed from other work, including a literature review, cardiovascular health and wellbeing profile, and full technical report. All of these resources are available on the PHA website, under 'Directorates', 'Service Development and Screening'. The work will also be used to help the development of service frameworks covering other disease areas. Putting a health inequalities focus on Northern Ireland cardiovascular service framework - Summary report: www.publichealth.hscni.net/publications/putting-health-inequalities-focu... health and wellbeing profile for Northern Ireland: www.publichealth.hscni.net/publications/cardiovascular-health-and-wellbe... health and wellbeing in Northern Ireland - Literature review: www.publichealth.hscni.net/publications/cardiovascular-health-and-wellbe... focus (newsletter): www.publichealth.hscni.net/publications/hia-focus

PHA Corporate business plan 2011-2012

The PHA Corporate Business Plan 2011-2012 is based on the four core goals and the common themes from the Corporate Strategy 2011-2015 and sets out a corporate picture of how the goals will be taken forward in year one (2011-2012) in line with existing AMT and board direction.�All Directorates were involved in developing the Corporate Business Plan and it reflects the content of each of the Directorate business plans.�It identifies a number of measurable indicators taken from the DHSSPS Commissioning Directions 2011-2012, as well as from each of the Directorate business plans.The Corporate Business Plan was approved by AMT on 1 November and by the PHA board on 17 November. Quarterly monitoring reports on progress against the indicators will be brought to the PHA board.