Influencing Change - City Health Plan Consultation - A Summary

Author(s): Belfast Healthy Cities
Document Type: Report
Year: 1999
Publisher: Belfast Healthy Cities
Place of Publication: Belfast
Subject Area(s): Health, Social Care, Environment, Housing, Education, Demography, Economic Issues

Abbreviations: BCC - Belfast City Council, DoE - Department of the Environment, HMO - Houses in Multiple Occupation, BELB - Belfast Education and Library Board, DENI - Department of Education for Northern Ireland

Background to the Research

  • Belfast Healthy Cities launched 'Towards aCity Health Plan' in June 1998, a consultation document which was to inform the citizens of Belfast of the many factors influencing their health and quality of life, and to inform the process of preparing a city health development plan. This report summarises the results of the consultation process and details the final stage in the production of the City Health Development Plan for Belfast.

Research Approach

  • 1,500 copies of 'Towards a City Health Plan' were produced and circulated to organisations and individuals across the city.
  • 138,000 leaflets were delivered to all households in Belfast and recipients were invited to attend consultation events.
  • Five area based community consultation events were held throughout the city.
  • There was a drama presentation and workshop sessions. Participants were asked to comment on the performance of statutory bodies and to say what activities they felt were good and working well, to consider those which might be improved and to identify issues which were not being currently addressed.
  • Population groups were consulted, mainly by questionnaire, via the voluntary sector organisations. People with disabilities, older people, young people, ethnic minority organisations, women's groups and men's groups were among those consulted.

Main Findings

Health and Social Care

  • In some areas it was considered that care in the community was good and that the accountability of health and social care organisations had improved. It was felt that there had been some improvement in training on health and safety issues, and that employers were more aware of their responsibilities in this regard.
  • There was concern about GP appointments systems and the home help service. The inequality of services between fundholders and non-fundholders was highlighted and waiting times were thought to be too long for some services.
  • Hospitals appeared to be competing with one another with less emphasis on care and service provision.
  • There was concern about the lack of social support for older people. It was felt that statutory organisations can display a negative attitude and that there was a need to improve their accessibility to all members of the public.
  • There was concern over mental health provision in certain areas and over inadequate follow-up care for those who are discharged from hospital with mental health problems.
  • The need for more research into men's health was raised.

Environment

  • People felt that the city was generally quite clean. Schemes, which monitor air quality and the conversion of heating systems from solid fuel to gas, were also welcomed. There was concern about air pollution caused by increasing volumes of traffic.
  • It was agreed that there was a lack of planning control and a reduction of green areas in the city. The public transport system was viewed as poor. There are too many private cars and not enough alternatives.
  • Recycling facilities and cleansing services were considered inadequate.
  • Empty houses, murals and graffiti were seen as detrimental to local areas. Access to the BCC and the DoE was thought to be poor. There was a lack of information and consultation regarding their services. There was concern over the lack of accountability of the DoE and over their unresponsiveness to local concerns.
  • There seemed to be little visible action on Travellers concerns.

Housing

  • It was agreed that the Housing Executive has improved it's service, that the standard of public sector housing is high and that housing associations are contributing well to housing in the city.
  • Concern was expressed about standards and rents in privately rented properties. There was thought to be a lack of control over HMOs.
  • It was felt that too few houses were being built in the public sector. House design and the needs of disabled people were thought to be significant issues. The method of allocation was criticised.
  • It was felt that more planning should be encouraged for religious integration in housing.
  • There were issues about the re-housing of 'problem families'.
  • It was felt that housing associations should engage more in formal community consultation concerning allocations.

Education

  • This was considered a key area. The BELB received some praise for its youth services, grants information and library service. The North and West Belfast Trust was said to provide useful courses. Adult education schemes were working quite well.
  • It was felt that the Transfer System had failed large sections of the community. League tables were criticised, as was the liaison between primary and secondary schools.
  • There was concern that the Youth Service has been dramatically reduced.
  • It was felt that nursery provision was inadequate in certain areas and that schools needed to be much more holistic in dealing with the emotional and well being needs of children.
  • The loan system in third level education was seen as a disincentive for those from lower income families.
  • There was, in general, a lack of knowledge about education structures within the BELB and DENI.

Economic Development

  • Organisations such as Business in the Community and Training for Life were considered to be examples of good practice.
  • It was felt that there was a lack of support for community based projects for unemployed people. The New Deal had failed to live up to its promise and there was not enough investment in young people.
  • There was a need to monitor more closely the Industrial Development Board's targeting of investments. It was suggested that inward investment needs to be measured against sustainability and that the economy needs to be built on co-operation rather than competition.

Recreation, Leisure and Community Services

  • Leisure Centres were praised, although it was believed that they are rather costly.
  • Libraries, art facilities and community centres are good but not in all areas.
  • Belfast City Council was praised for its playgrounds and its good response to complaints.
  • It was felt that some community groups were not really representative of the community.
  • There was insufficient provision for Travellers and minority groups.
  • Community arts need statutory funding.
  • There was insufficient provision of youth and community facilities.
  • The need to increase public transport services in the evening was highlighted.

Community Safety

  • Churches, voluntary agencies and the RUC were considered to be doing a lot of good work.
  • Children need to be made more aware of the dangers in the streets and of crime prevention.
  • It was felt that new models of community safety need to be developed.
  • Vetting procedures on childcare providers need to be improved. Some participants had no faith in the RUC. Child safety and the implementation of the Children's Order were considered to be high priority issues.

Recommendations

  • An important outcome of the process was the compilation of an extensive list of recommendations based on these seven areas of focus.
  • The population groups consulted also made recommendations on the issues and the provision of the services which most affected their lives.

Conclusions

  • Further planning events have been held to identify key recurring themes from the many issues raised. An overall goal and four broad themes have emerged.

Overall Goal

  • To promote the well-being of the citizens of Belfast.

Strategic Themes

  • To develop an integrated information strategy for the citizens of Belfast.
  • To improve the mental well-being of the citizens of Belfast.
  • To improve transport and co-ordinated environmental planning across the city.
  • To provide life long learning opportunities for the people of Belfast.
  • The guiding principles to be: community participation/accountability; intersectoral working; sustainable development; social inclusion/equity.
  • These themes were to form the basis of the City Health Development Plan to be launched in early 2000.
 

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