“2024: The Year Where Paychecks and Politics Collide”

Key themes in Northern Ireland’s health and social care narrative for 2024 include individuals, remuneration, governance, and a hint of optimism.

Numerous powerful narratives emerged – who can overlook the personal accounts during the UK Covid-19 Inquiry when it convened in Belfast, and the controversy surrounding cervical screenings that exposed the shortcomings in care for many women and their families?

Hospital waiting lists achieved a significant milestone, with over half a million individuals awaiting their initial consultation with a specialist.

In the midst of scandals and apologies, the year also witnessed notable advancements at Westminster and in the Republic of Ireland regarding assisted dying.

Additionally, there were initiatives on “duty of candour”, highlighting the necessity for transparency within healthcare.

As always, the workload was intense, with most services operating at full capacity, supported by committed staff keeping operations steady.

The year commenced with massive strike action and the largest walk-out of public sector employees in Northern Ireland for many years.

Thousands from 16 unions ceased work over pay issues – what began as a precarious start to the year concluded on a more harmonious note with advancements on a salary agreement.

Patient narratives have influenced the media’s focus, particularly from public inquiries, including Muckamore and Urology.

However, it was the heartrending personal accounts from the Infected Blood Inquiry in London in May that could capture attention.

A scathing report regarding the infected blood scandal unveiled that the infection of 30,000 individuals with HIV and hepatitis from 1970 to 1991 could have been “largely prevented”.

Local individuals were among the many who congregated to hear inquiry chair Sir Brian Langstaff’s conclusion that medical organizations, the NHS, and governmental bodies had “consistently” neglected victims.

The Belfast Health Trust and the Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service (NIBTS) issued apologies.

Conan McIlwrath from County Antrim remarked that the report’s text was just the tip of the iceberg, stating that “you don’t use the term failure 190 times without cause”.

In April, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry convened in Belfast, presenting shocking evidence of numerous failings across various NI Executive departments.

It was revealed that “political dysfunction” obstructed the implementation and adherence to some Covid-19 strategies, which counsel to the inquiry noted had a “direct consequence on cases and deaths”.

It was indicated that “older individuals were left woefully vulnerable” and that the Public Health Agency “did not respond swiftly to the seriousness of unfolding events”.

Former Health Minister Robin Swann stated that the gravity of Northern Ireland’s situation struck him on 10 March 2020.

One cannot have a year-end summary in Northern Ireland without referencing a new Executive.

In February, Robin Swann was reinstated as health minister, but after becoming an MP in July, he stepped down, leading to Mike Nesbitt’s appointment as his replacement.

A touch of optimism surfaced when – in what seemed a fresh approach – the new health minister delivered his inaugural address in a community center for at-risk adults.

On paper, this symbolized a shift towards addressing health disparities and enhanced investment in community care.

Nevertheless, meaningful change necessitates funding, and extensive negotiations ensued – leading to the minister’s dismissal of the November monitoring allocation amounting to £350m for his department.

He stated it still fell £100m short of what his department required to resolve the pay dispute in the health sector.

By December, the Department of Health (DoH) received £8.8bn in the Stormont budget, with Nesbitt characterizing it as a “highly challenging allocation” while expressing his willingness to tackle the challenge.

Earlier that month, the minister unveiled his three-year strategy which, according to the DoH, would necessitate executive backing and funding to meet its objectives.

The health committee at Stormont conducted thorough assessments of various matters, focusing significantly on the delayed new maternity hospital in Belfast.

They remarked that justifying additional funds was difficult when the new maternity facility continues to incur losses.

It is uncommon for individual patients to appear in successive year-end reviews, but ovarian cancer patient Christine Campbell is understandably the exception.

Facing terminal illness, Christine has surpassed the life expectancy set by doctors and this year was able to share that she received a lifeline due to a new treatment named Avastin.

In July 2023, she was informed she had less than a year left to live, but Christine remains with us.

“I now believe that I’ve been granted this additional lifeline, or at least it feels like an extra lifeline to me, which has provided me a sense of hope,” she expressed.

What a remarkable year for women’s voices advocating for change in women’s health services.

There was advocacy for women’s health centers and a further push for a specific women’s health strategy.

“Women with Letters” personalized the widespread failures that occurred in the Southern Health Trust relating to the cervical smear scandal.

Investigations found that eight women whose smear tests were incorrectly interpreted subsequently developed cancer, while an additional 11 women required treatment.

Two of these women passed away.

The Southern Trust issued an apology.

One of the affected women, Stella McLoughlin, described to BBC News NI it as an “unforgivable scandal”.

Like many years, we conclude this one with anticipation.

Perhaps the most significant puzzle has been the struggle to retain staff.

An agreement was made between the DoH and the majority of unions regarding a pay arrangement.

The pressing question remains, how to prevent an annual conflict over healthcare salaries in the future.