NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON)
@niconfederation.bsky.social
NICON is the voice of organisations working across Northern Ireland's integrated health and social care system. We are the only membership body for all HSC organisations in NI.
Part of @nhsconfed.bsky.social
https://www.nhsconfed.org/nicon
Part of @nhsconfed.bsky.social
https://www.nhsconfed.org/nicon
Our #NICON25 conference is now coming to an end after two fantastic days. A huge thank you to everyone who was able to join us either online or in person as we considered the opportunities and challenges associated with resetting our health system.
October 16, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Our #NICON25 conference is now coming to an end after two fantastic days. A huge thank you to everyone who was able to join us either online or in person as we considered the opportunities and challenges associated with resetting our health system.
We have been joined by Denise Hampson from The Desire Code at #NICON25, who is setting out the potential of human-centred design within the HSC system. Denise argues that the things people need tend to be quite modest, such as needing to feel like they are significant and being heard.
October 15, 2025 at 3:47 PM
We have been joined by Denise Hampson from The Desire Code at #NICON25, who is setting out the potential of human-centred design within the HSC system. Denise argues that the things people need tend to be quite modest, such as needing to feel like they are significant and being heard.
Our Health Innovation & Economy Network Zone has been launched by the DoH and DfE Permanent Secretaries.
Visit the Ballygowan Foyer Mezzanine to hear 'On-the-Sofa Conversations' with entrepreneurs driving forward health innovations!
www.nhsconfed.org/system/files...
#NICON25
Visit the Ballygowan Foyer Mezzanine to hear 'On-the-Sofa Conversations' with entrepreneurs driving forward health innovations!
www.nhsconfed.org/system/files...
#NICON25
October 15, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Our Health Innovation & Economy Network Zone has been launched by the DoH and DfE Permanent Secretaries.
Visit the Ballygowan Foyer Mezzanine to hear 'On-the-Sofa Conversations' with entrepreneurs driving forward health innovations!
www.nhsconfed.org/system/files...
#NICON25
Visit the Ballygowan Foyer Mezzanine to hear 'On-the-Sofa Conversations' with entrepreneurs driving forward health innovations!
www.nhsconfed.org/system/files...
#NICON25
An episode of the NHS Confederation’s ‘Health on the Line’ podcast is currently being filmed on our mainstage. Confed Chief Executive Matthew Taylor is conducting an in-depth interview with @health-ni.gov.uk Permanent Secretary Mike Farrar.
October 15, 2025 at 10:20 AM
An episode of the NHS Confederation’s ‘Health on the Line’ podcast is currently being filmed on our mainstage. Confed Chief Executive Matthew Taylor is conducting an in-depth interview with @health-ni.gov.uk Permanent Secretary Mike Farrar.
We just heard from @michaelmarmot.bsky.social on how we can keep tackling health inequalities at the heart of the HSC reset in NI.
“Hope is the opposite of fear, and if we are hopeful, we don’t sit back and wait for things to change. We can work to make things better.”
#NICON25
“Hope is the opposite of fear, and if we are hopeful, we don’t sit back and wait for things to change. We can work to make things better.”
#NICON25
October 15, 2025 at 9:43 AM
We just heard from @michaelmarmot.bsky.social on how we can keep tackling health inequalities at the heart of the HSC reset in NI.
“Hope is the opposite of fear, and if we are hopeful, we don’t sit back and wait for things to change. We can work to make things better.”
#NICON25
“Hope is the opposite of fear, and if we are hopeful, we don’t sit back and wait for things to change. We can work to make things better.”
#NICON25
We are delighted to have kicked off at #NICON25! If you are not able to experience the conference in person with us today, you can still register for the free livestream and join us as a virtual delegate on Zoom.
🎥 Day one livestream: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
🎥 Day one livestream: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
October 15, 2025 at 9:15 AM
We are delighted to have kicked off at #NICON25! If you are not able to experience the conference in person with us today, you can still register for the free livestream and join us as a virtual delegate on Zoom.
🎥 Day one livestream: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
🎥 Day one livestream: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
New #GraspingTheNettle webinar:
🌿 Reset plan for health and social care - Addressing our financial challenges
📅 4pm to 5.30pm, 21 July 2025
📍 Zoom
🎫 Book: www.nhsconfed.org/events/nicon...
We'll hear from DoH Permanent Secretary Mike Farrar & NHS Confederation Director of Policy Layla McCay.
🌿 Reset plan for health and social care - Addressing our financial challenges
📅 4pm to 5.30pm, 21 July 2025
📍 Zoom
🎫 Book: www.nhsconfed.org/events/nicon...
We'll hear from DoH Permanent Secretary Mike Farrar & NHS Confederation Director of Policy Layla McCay.
July 4, 2025 at 3:06 PM
New #GraspingTheNettle webinar:
🌿 Reset plan for health and social care - Addressing our financial challenges
📅 4pm to 5.30pm, 21 July 2025
📍 Zoom
🎫 Book: www.nhsconfed.org/events/nicon...
We'll hear from DoH Permanent Secretary Mike Farrar & NHS Confederation Director of Policy Layla McCay.
🌿 Reset plan for health and social care - Addressing our financial challenges
📅 4pm to 5.30pm, 21 July 2025
📍 Zoom
🎫 Book: www.nhsconfed.org/events/nicon...
We'll hear from DoH Permanent Secretary Mike Farrar & NHS Confederation Director of Policy Layla McCay.
New #GraspingTheNettle webinar announced:
🌿 Waiting List Initiatives – Understanding the Priorities
📅 10am to 11.30am, Thursday 5 June 2025
📍 Zoom
🎫 Book now: www.nhsconfed.org/events/nicon...
🌿 Waiting List Initiatives – Understanding the Priorities
📅 10am to 11.30am, Thursday 5 June 2025
📍 Zoom
🎫 Book now: www.nhsconfed.org/events/nicon...
May 22, 2025 at 11:54 AM
New #GraspingTheNettle webinar announced:
🌿 Waiting List Initiatives – Understanding the Priorities
📅 10am to 11.30am, Thursday 5 June 2025
📍 Zoom
🎫 Book now: www.nhsconfed.org/events/nicon...
🌿 Waiting List Initiatives – Understanding the Priorities
📅 10am to 11.30am, Thursday 5 June 2025
📍 Zoom
🎫 Book now: www.nhsconfed.org/events/nicon...
Our Director Heather Moorhead is leading a discussion this morning at the ECHAlliance 5 Nations Ecosystem Gathering, which will consider ‘Is social care the problem or the solution?’.
Full details here: echalliance.com/events-healt...
Full details here: echalliance.com/events-healt...
May 15, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Our Director Heather Moorhead is leading a discussion this morning at the ECHAlliance 5 Nations Ecosystem Gathering, which will consider ‘Is social care the problem or the solution?’.
Full details here: echalliance.com/events-healt...
Full details here: echalliance.com/events-healt...
Today we celebrate International Nurses' Day 2025! On behalf of our members, we want to say a huge thank you to all the nurses working in Northern Ireland.
The contribution you make to patients' lives is invaluable 🌟
The contribution you make to patients' lives is invaluable 🌟
May 12, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Today we celebrate International Nurses' Day 2025! On behalf of our members, we want to say a huge thank you to all the nurses working in Northern Ireland.
The contribution you make to patients' lives is invaluable 🌟
The contribution you make to patients' lives is invaluable 🌟
Finally, on leadership and decision-making:
"We should be empowering ourselves. I'm a big believer in distributed leadership, but people in the chain of distributed leadership need to be able to see the big picture... It requires creating that context and then devolving that authority."
"We should be empowering ourselves. I'm a big believer in distributed leadership, but people in the chain of distributed leadership need to be able to see the big picture... It requires creating that context and then devolving that authority."
May 8, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Finally, on leadership and decision-making:
"We should be empowering ourselves. I'm a big believer in distributed leadership, but people in the chain of distributed leadership need to be able to see the big picture... It requires creating that context and then devolving that authority."
"We should be empowering ourselves. I'm a big believer in distributed leadership, but people in the chain of distributed leadership need to be able to see the big picture... It requires creating that context and then devolving that authority."
On innovation and health & life sciences:
• NI's small population provides significant opportunities for strategic industry partnerships to address some of our burning problems
• Such investment could alleviate constraints on the public purse - But will require leadership and clinical empowerment
• NI's small population provides significant opportunities for strategic industry partnerships to address some of our burning problems
• Such investment could alleviate constraints on the public purse - But will require leadership and clinical empowerment
May 8, 2025 at 2:52 PM
On innovation and health & life sciences:
• NI's small population provides significant opportunities for strategic industry partnerships to address some of our burning problems
• Such investment could alleviate constraints on the public purse - But will require leadership and clinical empowerment
• NI's small population provides significant opportunities for strategic industry partnerships to address some of our burning problems
• Such investment could alleviate constraints on the public purse - But will require leadership and clinical empowerment
On the role of the VCSE sector:
• VCS orgs play a vital role, connecting with people at the community level and helping manage conditions that would otherwise drive patients towards general practice: They must be seen as an equal partner
• Longer-term VCS contracts would be mutually beneficial
• VCS orgs play a vital role, connecting with people at the community level and helping manage conditions that would otherwise drive patients towards general practice: They must be seen as an equal partner
• Longer-term VCS contracts would be mutually beneficial
May 8, 2025 at 2:52 PM
On the role of the VCSE sector:
• VCS orgs play a vital role, connecting with people at the community level and helping manage conditions that would otherwise drive patients towards general practice: They must be seen as an equal partner
• Longer-term VCS contracts would be mutually beneficial
• VCS orgs play a vital role, connecting with people at the community level and helping manage conditions that would otherwise drive patients towards general practice: They must be seen as an equal partner
• Longer-term VCS contracts would be mutually beneficial
On primary care & the shift left:
• Shifting resources towards primary care can help manage the % increase in the overall draw on NI’s spend
• Reducing unwarranted clinical variability at the first point-of-contact and scaling initiatives like MDTs & GP Federations are important areas of focus
• Shifting resources towards primary care can help manage the % increase in the overall draw on NI’s spend
• Reducing unwarranted clinical variability at the first point-of-contact and scaling initiatives like MDTs & GP Federations are important areas of focus
May 8, 2025 at 2:52 PM
On primary care & the shift left:
• Shifting resources towards primary care can help manage the % increase in the overall draw on NI’s spend
• Reducing unwarranted clinical variability at the first point-of-contact and scaling initiatives like MDTs & GP Federations are important areas of focus
• Shifting resources towards primary care can help manage the % increase in the overall draw on NI’s spend
• Reducing unwarranted clinical variability at the first point-of-contact and scaling initiatives like MDTs & GP Federations are important areas of focus
On staff experience:
• The quality of line management and fairness in the pay system are major factors impacting staff morale: We must communicate our efforts to improve in these areas and ensure staff feel valued
• Colleagues must not be blamed for raising concerns around unmanageable workloads
• The quality of line management and fairness in the pay system are major factors impacting staff morale: We must communicate our efforts to improve in these areas and ensure staff feel valued
• Colleagues must not be blamed for raising concerns around unmanageable workloads
May 8, 2025 at 2:52 PM
On staff experience:
• The quality of line management and fairness in the pay system are major factors impacting staff morale: We must communicate our efforts to improve in these areas and ensure staff feel valued
• Colleagues must not be blamed for raising concerns around unmanageable workloads
• The quality of line management and fairness in the pay system are major factors impacting staff morale: We must communicate our efforts to improve in these areas and ensure staff feel valued
• Colleagues must not be blamed for raising concerns around unmanageable workloads
On workforce:
• Workforce planning is central to any HSC reset: It must be informed by practice to ensure staff are appropriately skilled and deployed to meet both current & future demands
📒 Our workforce report outlines opportunities to address these challenges: tinyurl.com/nicon-no-tim...
• Workforce planning is central to any HSC reset: It must be informed by practice to ensure staff are appropriately skilled and deployed to meet both current & future demands
📒 Our workforce report outlines opportunities to address these challenges: tinyurl.com/nicon-no-tim...
May 8, 2025 at 2:52 PM
On workforce:
• Workforce planning is central to any HSC reset: It must be informed by practice to ensure staff are appropriately skilled and deployed to meet both current & future demands
📒 Our workforce report outlines opportunities to address these challenges: tinyurl.com/nicon-no-tim...
• Workforce planning is central to any HSC reset: It must be informed by practice to ensure staff are appropriately skilled and deployed to meet both current & future demands
📒 Our workforce report outlines opportunities to address these challenges: tinyurl.com/nicon-no-tim...
On clinical engagement & empowerment:
• "No clinician goes into work to do the wrong thing": We must move away from a culture of blame & create conditions whereby clinicians are empowered to be the best they possibly can be
• Clinical buy-in = Alignment with a shared purpose & vision for the HSC
• "No clinician goes into work to do the wrong thing": We must move away from a culture of blame & create conditions whereby clinicians are empowered to be the best they possibly can be
• Clinical buy-in = Alignment with a shared purpose & vision for the HSC
May 8, 2025 at 2:52 PM
On clinical engagement & empowerment:
• "No clinician goes into work to do the wrong thing": We must move away from a culture of blame & create conditions whereby clinicians are empowered to be the best they possibly can be
• Clinical buy-in = Alignment with a shared purpose & vision for the HSC
• "No clinician goes into work to do the wrong thing": We must move away from a culture of blame & create conditions whereby clinicians are empowered to be the best they possibly can be
• Clinical buy-in = Alignment with a shared purpose & vision for the HSC
On place-based approaches:
• Embedding a place-based approach into the HSC operating model will assist with changing the pattern of utilisation - Facilitating the implementation of Bengoa & reducing waiting times
• This may involve formal arrangements for Trust decision-making to optimise assets
• Embedding a place-based approach into the HSC operating model will assist with changing the pattern of utilisation - Facilitating the implementation of Bengoa & reducing waiting times
• This may involve formal arrangements for Trust decision-making to optimise assets
May 8, 2025 at 2:52 PM
On place-based approaches:
• Embedding a place-based approach into the HSC operating model will assist with changing the pattern of utilisation - Facilitating the implementation of Bengoa & reducing waiting times
• This may involve formal arrangements for Trust decision-making to optimise assets
• Embedding a place-based approach into the HSC operating model will assist with changing the pattern of utilisation - Facilitating the implementation of Bengoa & reducing waiting times
• This may involve formal arrangements for Trust decision-making to optimise assets
On demand management:
• Demand is outstripping funding in health and care systems globally – Continuing on the current trajectory is unsustainable
• Tackling demand involves both supporting the public to stay healthy & ensuring that patients can access the right services at the right time
• Demand is outstripping funding in health and care systems globally – Continuing on the current trajectory is unsustainable
• Tackling demand involves both supporting the public to stay healthy & ensuring that patients can access the right services at the right time
May 8, 2025 at 2:52 PM
On demand management:
• Demand is outstripping funding in health and care systems globally – Continuing on the current trajectory is unsustainable
• Tackling demand involves both supporting the public to stay healthy & ensuring that patients can access the right services at the right time
• Demand is outstripping funding in health and care systems globally – Continuing on the current trajectory is unsustainable
• Tackling demand involves both supporting the public to stay healthy & ensuring that patients can access the right services at the right time
On prevention, outcomes and public & patient engagement:
• "Connecting to people on their own health is the solution" to implementing the shift from treatment to prevention
• Yet addressing waiting lists must also be a priority: Time spent waiting for treatment is a major determinant of outcomes
• "Connecting to people on their own health is the solution" to implementing the shift from treatment to prevention
• Yet addressing waiting lists must also be a priority: Time spent waiting for treatment is a major determinant of outcomes
May 8, 2025 at 2:52 PM
On prevention, outcomes and public & patient engagement:
• "Connecting to people on their own health is the solution" to implementing the shift from treatment to prevention
• Yet addressing waiting lists must also be a priority: Time spent waiting for treatment is a major determinant of outcomes
• "Connecting to people on their own health is the solution" to implementing the shift from treatment to prevention
• Yet addressing waiting lists must also be a priority: Time spent waiting for treatment is a major determinant of outcomes
On culture and collaboration:
• “Culture eats strategy for breakfast”: Creating a culture of ‘one team’ is key to implementing NI's strategies
• True collective working entails routine collaboration across Trust boundaries, utilising estates, facilities & workforce effectively
• “Culture eats strategy for breakfast”: Creating a culture of ‘one team’ is key to implementing NI's strategies
• True collective working entails routine collaboration across Trust boundaries, utilising estates, facilities & workforce effectively
May 8, 2025 at 2:52 PM
On culture and collaboration:
• “Culture eats strategy for breakfast”: Creating a culture of ‘one team’ is key to implementing NI's strategies
• True collective working entails routine collaboration across Trust boundaries, utilising estates, facilities & workforce effectively
• “Culture eats strategy for breakfast”: Creating a culture of ‘one team’ is key to implementing NI's strategies
• True collective working entails routine collaboration across Trust boundaries, utilising estates, facilities & workforce effectively
Mike on system working:
• System working is about more than just the horizontal relationships between HSC bodies; it involves working with government departments, local authorities, primary care and the public
• It also entails ensuring that health and care spending supports a wider agenda
• System working is about more than just the horizontal relationships between HSC bodies; it involves working with government departments, local authorities, primary care and the public
• It also entails ensuring that health and care spending supports a wider agenda
May 8, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Mike on system working:
• System working is about more than just the horizontal relationships between HSC bodies; it involves working with government departments, local authorities, primary care and the public
• It also entails ensuring that health and care spending supports a wider agenda
• System working is about more than just the horizontal relationships between HSC bodies; it involves working with government departments, local authorities, primary care and the public
• It also entails ensuring that health and care spending supports a wider agenda
NICON were delighted to provide the opportunity last week for over 150 members to meet the new DoH interim Permanent Secretary, Mike Farrar @health-ni.gov.uk
🧵A short thread of insights from the session, covering a wide range of system issues:
First up - We asked Mike, "Why Northern Ireland?"
🧵A short thread of insights from the session, covering a wide range of system issues:
First up - We asked Mike, "Why Northern Ireland?"
May 8, 2025 at 2:52 PM
NICON were delighted to provide the opportunity last week for over 150 members to meet the new DoH interim Permanent Secretary, Mike Farrar @health-ni.gov.uk
🧵A short thread of insights from the session, covering a wide range of system issues:
First up - We asked Mike, "Why Northern Ireland?"
🧵A short thread of insights from the session, covering a wide range of system issues:
First up - We asked Mike, "Why Northern Ireland?"
New #GraspingTheNettle webinar:
🌿 Interview with Mike Farrar - Plans, Priorities & People: Join us to hear from Mike Farrar in his new role as interim Permanent Secretary for @health-ni.gov.uk
📅 2pm to 3.30pm, Tuesday 29 April 2025, Zoom
📍 Zoom
🎫 Book now: www.nhsconfed.org/events/nicon...
🌿 Interview with Mike Farrar - Plans, Priorities & People: Join us to hear from Mike Farrar in his new role as interim Permanent Secretary for @health-ni.gov.uk
📅 2pm to 3.30pm, Tuesday 29 April 2025, Zoom
📍 Zoom
🎫 Book now: www.nhsconfed.org/events/nicon...
April 11, 2025 at 11:42 AM
New #GraspingTheNettle webinar:
🌿 Interview with Mike Farrar - Plans, Priorities & People: Join us to hear from Mike Farrar in his new role as interim Permanent Secretary for @health-ni.gov.uk
📅 2pm to 3.30pm, Tuesday 29 April 2025, Zoom
📍 Zoom
🎫 Book now: www.nhsconfed.org/events/nicon...
🌿 Interview with Mike Farrar - Plans, Priorities & People: Join us to hear from Mike Farrar in his new role as interim Permanent Secretary for @health-ni.gov.uk
📅 2pm to 3.30pm, Tuesday 29 April 2025, Zoom
📍 Zoom
🎫 Book now: www.nhsconfed.org/events/nicon...
Join us on Tuesday for our next 'Grasping the Nettle' webinar - 'Hospital Reconfiguration – A Framework Fit for the Future?'
When: 11 Feb at 1.30pm
Where: Zoom
Book now: www.nhsconfed.org/events/nicon...
When: 11 Feb at 1.30pm
Where: Zoom
Book now: www.nhsconfed.org/events/nicon...
February 7, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Join us on Tuesday for our next 'Grasping the Nettle' webinar - 'Hospital Reconfiguration – A Framework Fit for the Future?'
When: 11 Feb at 1.30pm
Where: Zoom
Book now: www.nhsconfed.org/events/nicon...
When: 11 Feb at 1.30pm
Where: Zoom
Book now: www.nhsconfed.org/events/nicon...