NI Public Affairs Update January 2024

Open Consultations 

The Department of Health is welcoming views on two consultations related to obesity:

• Proposed Regional Obesity Management Service (ROMS) for Northern Ireland | Department of Health
• Strategic Framework to Prevent the Harm caused by Obesity, and Improve Diets and Levels of Physical Activity

The Department plans to introduce a prototype Regional Obesity Management Service in Northern Ireland and has a new proposed Strategic Framework to Prevent the Harm caused by Obesity, and Improve Diets and Levels of Physical Activity.

The new service would aim to enhance health and wellbeing in Northern Ireland by focusing on the provision of speciality clinical support, in community and hospital-based settings, to address obesity.

Both consultations note the key role that psychology has in this specialist support.

The BPS is responding to the consultations imminently after hosting a consultation workshop. Thank you to all who inputted, and BPS encourages members to respond in their own professional capacity to share their expertise as the area of obesity strategy is wide reaching and contains a range of specialist subject areas within it.

Recent consultation responses

The BPS responded to The Executive Office Consultation on the development of a Strategic Framework to End Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG)

This draft seven-year (2023-2030) Strategic Framework to End Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG), has been co-designed with over 50 stakeholders from across government, community and voluntary sectors, and wider society, including those with lived experience.

It sets the agenda for all of government and society to end violence against women and girls. It is ambitious, long term, and wide reaching.

This document is intended to be a living document, which means it will be adapted along the journey according to emerging needs.

Find out more about this conversation.

The BPS responded with the help of many members and we would like to thank members for their engagement

The Strategic Framework set out a focus on prevention which was an approach we supported.

Members provided practical and research based evidence on how the vision and outcomes in the Framework could operate in practice.

We welcomed further engagement and involvement with implementation and evaluation of the Framework from a psychological perspective.

Read our full response

NI Government Update

The devolved government in Northern Ireland has been restored after a 24-month hiatus.

First Minister Michelle O'Neill has stated that funding for Northern Ireland's public services is a top priority.

The UK Government is due to release a £3.3bn package earmarked to resolve public sector pay disputes and ease strain on public services.

We are hopeful that more traction can be gained on the issues below with a return of the Assembly and we will be setting up a quarterly policy group open to all members to facilitate discussions and identify new areas of concern.

Recent Public Affairs Activity - Key policy focus areas

Mental Health

We recently met with the Northern Ireland Mental Health Champion to discuss funding and workforce issues impacting the delivery of the Mental Health Strategy and requested a review of the psychological workforce as a key ask.

Domestic and Sexual abuse and violence towards women and girls

This is a policy area BPS is currently engaged in and assisting relevant departments with consultations on government strategy.

Addiction Services

Addiction services generally is a policy area BPS is engaging in.

In particular we are liaising with members and stakeholder partners on tackling the issue of gambling harm in Northern Ireland.

Get in touch

Should you wish to get in touch about policy issues, we would love to hear from you!

Please contact [email protected].