Working with you to Transform General Surgery

Overview

We have developed a consultation document which details why we believe we need to make some changes to our general surgery services.  We want everyone across the Northern Trust area to benefit from safe, effective and high quality care.  We are committed to ensuring the best outcomes for our patients and we can only achieve this by planning services carefully around the needs of our population.  We must manage increasing and changing demand within the resources that we have.

In keeping with the commitments in our Equality Scheme we have carried out an Equality Impact Assessment of this proposal.  We have also carried out a Rural Needs Impact Assessment.  A copy of the Equality Impact Assessment and Rural Needs Impact Assessment can also be found on the Trust’s website.

We are consulting for 14 weeks beginning 23 August 2024. 

Before you submit your response, please read this section on Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the confidentiality of responses to public consultation exercises.

Trust Response and Freedom of Information Act (2000)

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust will publish an anonymised summary of the responses received to our consultation process.  However, under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000, particular responses may be disclosed on request, unless an exemption(s) under the legislation applies.  Under the FOIA anyone has right to request access to information held by public authorities; the Northern Trust is such a public body.  Trust decisions in relation to the release of information that the Trust holds are governed by various pieces of legislation, and as such the Trust cannot automatically consider responses received as part of any consultation process as exempt.  However, confidentiality issues will be carefully considered before any disclosures are made.

We welcome your views on our proposal.

Why your views matter

As part of the consultation process the Trust will be holding three in person listening events across the Trust area and one online.

Dates for the listening events are as follows:

30 September at 7pm - 8.30pm – Glenavon Hotel, Cookstown

1 October at 7pm - 8.30pm – Online (please register to receive link to join)

7 October at 7pm - 8.30pm – Lodge Hotel, Coleraine

9 October at 7pm - 8.30pm – Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim

These events will provide the opportunity for you to hear more about the proposals and to give your feedback.

To register for one of the events please contact the Trust’s Involvement Team on InvolvingYou@northerntrust.hscni.net or telephone 02827661377 detailing which date you wish to attend.