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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

1st webinar in our #Reset series is open for booking: 💷 Budget briefing and system discussion 📅 1pm to 2.30pm, Monday 1 December 2025 📍 Zoom 🎫 Book now: www.nhsconfed.org/events/nicon... We'll discuss the implications of the recently announced UK budget for health and social care in NI.

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

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.

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

Day 2 of #NICON25 has started! We've just heard from the FM Michelle O’Neill and dFM Emma Little-Pengelly on the Executive’s priorities for health and social care. Both were very positive about the future of the HSC system now we have a Reset Plan in place.

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

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.

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Reposted by NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON)

Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry @abpi.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Published for #NICON25 - guidance from us and @niconfederation.bsky.social on creating successful NHS-industry partnerships. Together we will harness the power of partnership to improve care and deliver lasting value for people, systems, and society. #PowerofPartnerships bit.ly/4nV2Mp4

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Reposted by NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON)

Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry @abpi.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

We're very pleased to be supporting the #NICON25 conference - now underway! @niconfederation.bsky.social By harnessing the strength of the health service, the life sciences sector, and Northern Ireland’s academic prowess, we can deliver for patients.

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Reposted by NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON)

Patient and Client Council @patientclient.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

#NICON25 Join us at 2:15pm 'Café conversations: Leadership showcase'. ‘Seeking resolution 1 conversation at a time’-we'll be demonstrating how we use effective communication in partnership to resolve complex issues, strengthen relationships & drive meaningful change. @niconfederation.bsky.social

PCC Colleagues at Book Club Themed Table with PCC merchandise

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Reposted by NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON)

Patient and Client Council @patientclient.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

📢We are delighted to launch ‘People to Partners: Developing a unique approach for NI’ 👉Available now at: pcc-ni.net/5696 #peopletopartners #teampcc #NICON25 @niconfederation.bsky.social

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

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

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

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.

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

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

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Reposted by NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON)

Patient and Client Council @patientclient.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Day 1 of #NICON25! We are proud to sponsor 10 members of the public to join us this year. Looking forward to our report launch of ‘People to Partners’, networking, learning and sharing ideas with HSC colleagues. Find #TeamPCC in the Reset Lounge! #peopletopartners @niconfederation.bsky.social

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

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...

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

The eighth webinar in our ‘Grasping the Nettle’ series is now available to watch online! It focused on the recently announced reset plans for health and social care. 🌿 Watch here: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis... More Grasping the Nettle webinars will be announced soon!

youtube.com

'Grasping the Nettle' webinar series - YouTube

As part of NICON's Grasping the Nettle-themed conference in October 2024, a series of topical webinars will run throughout 2025. You can read more about the ...

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

We have issued a statement on behalf of our members in response to the plan to 'reset' health and social care in Northern Ireland, which was announced this afternoon by the Health Minister. ➡️ www.nhsconfed.org/news/health-...

nhsconfed.org

Health leaders support ambitious reset plan and commit to a one-system approach

Health leaders express their support for an ambitious 'reset' of the health and social care system in Northern Ireland

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

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.

Image advertising the details of the webinar

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

The seventh webinar in our ‘Grasping the Nettle’ series is now available to watch online! It focused on one of the most pressing concerns for the HSC system – waiting lists. 🌿Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mg68... More Grasping the Nettle webinars will be announced soon!

youtube.com

Grasping the Nettle webinar 7: Waiting List Initiatives – Understanding the Priorities

YouTube video by NICON

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

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...

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

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...

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

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 🌟

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

Our sincere thanks to Mike for taking the time to join us, provide insights and answer questions from our members and stakeholders. 🎥 The full interview reel can be viewed here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4_Q...

youtube.com

GtN: Interview with Mike Farrar - Highlights Reel

YouTube video by NICON

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

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."

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

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

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

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

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

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

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

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

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

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...

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

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

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

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

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

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

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

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

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

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

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

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

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

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?"

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

A big congratulations to our colleagues in the Western @westernhsctrust.bsky.social & Southern HSC Trusts who went live with encompass today. All HSC Trusts in NI are now using one digital integrated care record system for the first time. This is a huge achievement, well done to everyone involved!🌟

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Our Spokesperson, Mark Taylor, was on Evening Extra last night to discuss the new waiting list initiatives. Mark welcomed the plans, while recognising the challenge in resourcing them given the immense pressure the HSC system is under. 📻 Listen from 7.40: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

Evening Extra - 06/05/2025 - BBC Sounds

All the day’s news and analysis with Richard Morgan.

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Reposted by NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON)

Department of Health @health-ni.gov.uk · 06/05/2025

The Health Minister has announced a package of initiatives to tackle hospital care backlogs, including a Waiting List Reimbursement Scheme. ➡️Read more: www.health-ni.gov.uk/news/nesbitt-launches-waiting-list-initiatives

A picture of Health Minister Mike Nesbitt with text beside it which reads: “These planned investments reflect the Executive’s ringfencing of up to £215m in this year’s Health budget for waiting list activities – in line with the finalised Programme for Government.

“This breaks down into £85m for red flag and time critical care; £80m for building up capacity to address the long-standing mismatch with demand; and up to £50m to start tackling the backlog in care.

“Investment at this level will need to be sustained for at least five years to bring hospital waiting times down to acceptable levels. We are only at the foothills of what will be a long uphill trek.”

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Reposted by NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON)

NHS Confederation (now known as The NHS Alliance) @nhsconfed.org · 24/04/2025

Join us at #NHSConfedExpo and learn about tried and tested strategies from organisations that have improved patient outcomes, streamlined care pathways, and driven service transformation. Book your pass: bit.ly/3YUkNZt

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

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...

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Reposted by NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON)

NHS Confederation (now known as The NHS Alliance) @nhsconfed.org · 09/04/2025

💭How can we make sure that the NHS can serve everyone effectively, across all age groups? 🤔 This week, @ConfedMatt.bsky.social is joined by @rachel-p.bsky.social to discuss how the NHS should work towards doing just that. 🏥 Find out more on the latest episode of #HealthontheLine, out now. 🎧📲

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

This morning, we put out a statement on the draft HSC budget for NI, warning that the proposed funding for Health and Social Care could result in service cuts equivalent to the loss of 10,000 staff. Read our full statement here: www.nhsconfed.org/news/health-...

nhsconfed.org

Health leaders say draft budget is unworkable and call for creative political action to secure three-year financial plan

NICON responds to the draft HSC budget for Northern Ireland, saying it may lead to service cuts

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Reposted by NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON)

NHS Confederation (now known as The NHS Alliance) @nhsconfed.org · 28/02/2025

As LGBT+ History Month draws to a close, we’re pleased to launch our LGBTQ+ inclusion hub 🏳‍🌈 It includes a range of resources to support you to embed LGBTQ+ inclusion within your health and care organisations. Take a look 👇 buff.ly/4kh6pnU #LGBTplusHM #LGBTplusHM25

buff.ly

LGBTQ+ inclusion hub

Tools and resources to support leaders, aspiring leaders and allies to embed LGBTQ+ inclusion within their organisations.

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Reposted by NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON)

Royal College of Midwives @rcm.org.uk · 21/02/2025

You have until midnight tonight to self nominate to the RCM Board! Becoming a Board member for the RCM is a fantastic opportunity, and is both a challenging and rewarding commitment in equal measure. Learn more and self nominate: buff.ly/3Ehp8z4

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

NICON members have welcomed the appointment of Mike Farrar as the incoming Interim Permanent Secretary for @health-ni.gov.uk. Mike is well known to our members, having supported a range of developmental programmes in NI. Read our full statement here: www.nhsconfed.org/news/ni-heal...

nhsconfed.org

NI health leaders welcome appointment of new interim Permanent Secretary

NICON members welcome the appointment of Mike Farrar as incoming Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health in Northern Ireland

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Reposted by NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON)

Department of Health @health-ni.gov.uk · 11/02/2025

The Health Minister welcomed the appointment of Mike Farrar as interim Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health. Minister Nesbitt also paid tribute to the retiring current Permanent Secretary Peter May. 🔗health-ni.gov.uk/news/health-minister-welcomes-interim-permanent-secretary-appointment

A picture of Health Minister Mike Nesbitt next to text, which reads; “Mike Farrar has a long and impressive track record of health service leadership in the United Kingdom and brings considerable experience of healthcare systems in this country and overseas. This will be of great benefit as we tackle the tremendous challenges in health and social care in Northern Ireland.

“I have often spoken of my admiration for Peter May whose wisdom, experience, integrity and leadership has proved invaluable during an extremely challenging period for our health and social care system”

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Reposted by NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON)

South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust @setrust.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

"The care provided was out of this world."❤️ A huge shoutout to our amazing Midwifery team at the Downe Hospital for the exceptional care they provide to new mums ✨ #MakingADifference #HSC You can share your experience here👇 bit.ly/3RKTMoj

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

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...

A promotional image advertising the webinar.

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

Last chance to register for our webinar on the 3 year HSC strategy! When: 17 Jan at 2pm Where: Zoom Book: nhsconfed.org/events/nicon... This is the 1st session in our Grasping the Nettle webinar series, which will run throughout 2025.

nhsconfed.org

NICON Webinar: Health and Social Care NI - Three Year Strategy

Join us to discuss the new three year strategy for health and social care in Northern Ireland.

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NI Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) @niconfederation.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

For 2025, we are launching our new #GraspingTheNettle webinar series. This series will focus on the 'nettles' we must grasp to drive progress within the HSC system. The first three webinars are available to book now! 🎫 nhsconfed.org/nicon

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