NI Public Affairs Update March 2024

Consultations

We recently responded to two department of health consultations on the prevention and treatment of obesity in Northern Ireland.

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.

• 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 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 noted the key role that psychology has in this specialist support.

We responded with the help of members and would like to thank members for their valuable and detailed input to highlight practical considerations in implementing the strategy.

These include workforce considerations and recommendations for psychological input across all tiers of the proposed approach.

We also encouraged 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.

Read our full response

BPS 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.

We are now starting to see traction in areas such as mental health and addiction services.

Mental Health

We recently met with the Northern Ireland Mental Health Champion Group 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.

This is one of the actions from the strategy which has not yet been carried out due to a delay caused by the hiatus in NI Devolved Government.

A meeting has been agreed with the First and Deputy First Ministers to discuss mental health services and needs in Northern Ireland and we await a date and time.

We are engaging with members via the NIBPS Committee on this.

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.

This has been discussed in the Assembly in March 2024 and contact has been made and a reply received from the Minister for Health.

At present this is at the stage of gathering data to support commissioning of this service.

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.

Quarterly Policy Group Member meetings

With devolved Government now restored in Northern Ireland, we are commencing quarterly policy meetings with members starting April 2024.

This is open to all members and we are seeking input on any existing or new/upcoming policy matters where BPS can engage.

Get in touch

Should you wish to get in touch about policy issues, we would love to hear from you! Your input is important in helping to shape our policy and public affair activity.

Please contact [email protected].