Consultations

The South Eastern Trust is committed to involving staff, service users, local communities and the general public in the decisions we make about our services. One of the ways we do this is by seeking views and feedback on plans, proposals and service changes through formal public consultation exercises.

Effective consultation allows the Trust to make informed decisions, to improve the delivery of services and its accountability. In this section of our website we will provide you with information regarding our consultations and advice on how you can give your views.

We have a consultee database. If you would like to be added to this database or require further information, please get in touch – details are provided below.

We publish our current consultations and how you can get involved here.

Contact details

Strategic & Capital Development Department

South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust

Kelly House, Ulster Hospital

Dundonald

BT16 1RH

Tel: 028 9055 0434

Text phone: 028 9151 0137

Email: consultation@setrust.hscni.net

Consultation on new Health and Social Care NI Involvement and Consultation Scheme

The Public Health Agency, in partnership with the health and social care trusts in Northern Ireland, are seeking your views on a new involvement and consultation scheme.

Involvement of, and consultation with service users and carers, is critical in the commissioning, development, design and delivery of Health and Social Care services. To comply with our statutory duties in regards to involvement and consultation (as set out in the Health and social Care Reform Act (NI) 2009), we must have a consultation scheme in place, which sets out how we meet our statutory responsibilities in this field.

Working together through the regional HSC Personal and Public Involvement Forum, service users, carers, experts and advocates in the fields of involvement and consultation, and other health and social care partners, have collaborated on the development of a common, generic template, in order to update our respective schemes. In adopting this approach, we hope to raise standards and improve consistency of approach to the active and meaningful involvement of service users, carers, and effective partnership working with our community and voluntary sector partners and the wider public.

We thank you in advance for taking the time to give us your feedback on the Involvement and Consultation Scheme and look forward to your comments.

The closing date for the consultation is 25 November 2024.

Please give your feedback at: Health and Social Care NI (HSCNI) Involvement and Consultation Scheme.

Additionally, service users and carers are invited to attend one of three workshops across the region. The aim of the workshops is to take participants through the new document, walk through the live online consultation and answer any other questions that you may have. The workshops will be held on the following dates:

Belfast – Friday 1st November, 10.30am – 12pm, Arches Wellbeing & Treatment Centre, 41 Westminster Ave, Belfast, BT4 1NS

Ballymoney – Monday 4th November, 2pm – 3.30pm, Ballymoney Health Centre, 21b Newal Road, Ballymoney, BT53 6HB

Omagh – Monday 11th November from 10.30am – 12pm Omagh Library, 1 Spillars Place, Irishtown Road, Omagh, BT78 1HL

If you wish to attend one of the workshops, please complete the short registration form here. For more information on the workshops please click here.

Alternatively, If you would like to find out more information, please email ppi.secretary@hscni.net

Consultation on Equality and Disability Action Plans 2023-28

Consultation period: 5 June – 25 September 2023

The six Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland worked in partnership to develop new Equality and Disability Action Plans for 2023-28.

These equality and disability action plans outline the proposed actions to be taken forward by the Health and Social Care Trusts over the next 5 years to address Section 75 inequalities, and to promote positive attitudes towards people with a disability and to encourage participation in public life. The plans were informed by an audit of inequalities and engagement with experts by experience and key stakeholders.

Trusts sought views on our Equality and Disability Action Plans and welcomed feedback regarding the potential impact of our proposed actions or how they could be improved. We were keen to hear from anyone – service users, carers, staff and trade unions and valued input from those with lived experience.

A 16 week consultation commenced on 5 June 2023 to 25 September 2023.

Consultation Documents

Consultation letter

Consultation Letter Easy Read

Draft Equality Action Plan

Draft Disability Action Plan

Audit of Inequalities

Consultees could provide feedback on the draft plans by completing the consultation proforma by clicking this link.

Alternatively we welcomed views in any format through contacting the Equality Team on 07971322028 or consultation@setrust.hscni.net.

Or in writing to the Equality Team at The Sidings, Building 1, Antrim Street, Lisburn, BT28 3AJ.

Public Consultation on the Future Provision of Urgent and Emergency Care Services - Ards and North Down Area

Consultation period: 8 February 2023 – 3 May 2023

Urgent and emergency care services in Northern Ireland have experienced significant and growing pressures for a number of years, which have been further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. Increasing demand, an ageing population and workforce challenges continue to have a significant impact.

The Trust faced increasing challenges with providing safe and sustainable urgent and emergency care services, particularly to the population of Ards and North Down. It was clear that change was required to enable the delivery of sustainable high quality urgent and emergency care.

The Trust held a 12-week public consultation between 8 February and 3 May 2023 to seek public views on the Future Provision of Urgent and Emergency Care Services in the Ards and North Down area.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION PROCESS

As part of the consultation, there were a range of opportunities for staff and the local community to provide their views. Further detail on the consultation process can be found in our consultation feedback report.

Consultation documentation is available below:

Consultation Document

Easy Read Consultation Document

Consultation Questionnaire

In keeping with the commitments in our Equality Scheme we carried out an Equality Screening and Rural Needs Impact Assessment which can be viewed on the following links:

Equality Screening

Rural Needs Impact Assessment

CONSULTATION FEEDBACK

The feedback received during the consultation process was presented to Trust Board on 28 June 2023. After careful consideration, the Trust Board approved the proposal to deliver a new, 7 days per week Consultant led Urgent Care Centre, alongside the new Emergency Department at the Ulster Hospital.

The Trust Board‘s recommendation was considered by the Department of Health, in line with its policy and guidance on change or withdrawal of service.

The Trust welcomed the Department of Health’s decision to approve proposals for the reshaping of urgent and emergency care services on 30 September 2023.

The first phase saw the opening of a Consultant led Minor Injury Unit (MIU) 8am-6pm, 7 days a week at the Ulster Hospital site. This replaced the Minor Injury Unit at Ards Community Hospital and the Minor Injury Unit at Bangor Community Hospital. The Bangor Minor Injury Unit has been closed on a temporary basis since 2020.

The second phase of the plans will involve provision of a full Urgent Care Centre 8am-8pm, 7 days a week, co-located with the new Emergency Department in the Ulster Hospital’s Acute Services Block.

A summary of consultee feedback and the Trust’s response to the feedback can be found in the consultation feedback report available on the link below:

Consultation Feedback Report

The Trust wishes to extend its thanks and appreciation to all those individuals, elected representatives, groups and organisations who responded to the consultation process.

If you have any queries on the consultation please contact the Trust on 028 9055 0434 or email consultation@setrust.hscni.net.

Click here to read the Press Release.

Public Consultation on the Temporary Changes to the Urgent and Emergency Care Services at LVH

Consultation period: 23 February – 22 April 2022

On Monday 18 October 2021, opening hours at the Lagan Valley Hospital Urgent Care Centre were temporarily changed from 8am – 8pm Monday to Friday, to 8am – 6pm Monday to Friday. A ‘Phone First’ service was also introduced on this date.

The decision to reduce the opening hours by two hours a day was taken by the Trust in response to the significant shortage of suitably qualified emergency medical staff and the ability to maintain high quality standards of care for patients. Patient safety is the Trust’s key priority and there was no alternative to making this decision.

The ‘Phone First’ service involves patients being assessed by a senior doctor over the phone and ensures people receive the right care, first time. This system is being implemented across the Region and is consistent with the Department of Health’s Review of Urgent and Emergency Care Services in Northern Ireland.

The Trust held a public consultation between 23 February and 22 April 2022 to seek public views on the temporary changes outlined above.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION PROCESS

Consultation documentation is available below:

Link to Consultation Document

Link to easy read document

Link to Consultation questionnaire

In keeping with the commitments in our Equality Scheme, we carried out an Equality Screening and Rural Needs Impact Assessment which can be viewed on the following links:

Link to Equality Screening

Link to Rural Needs Impact Assessment

CONSULTATION OUTCOME

The feedback received during the consultation process was presented to Trust Board on 29 June 2022. After careful consideration, the Trust Board approved the following recommendations:

Continue with the temporary reduction in opening hours.
Continue with the Phone First system.
Temporarily rename the facility as an ‘Urgent Care Centre’ to better reflect the services currently delivered.

The above recommendations were made in the absence of any suggestions of viable alternatives to address the significant shortage of suitably qualified emergency medical staff during the consultation process, and to ensure we maintain high quality, safe standards of care for patients.

The Trust continues to monitor the ongoing impact of the temporary changes and will continue to make every effort to address the staffing challenges we face.