College welcomes return to power-sharing government in Northern Ireland
RCPsych in Northern Ireland has welcomed the return to power-sharing at the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Power-sharing was restored at the weekend after a deal was struck and new legislation was passed by the UK Parliament.
Robin Swann, an Honorary Fellow of the College, was Health Minister between January 2020 to October 2022 and now returns to take up the same position.
The minister said:
“I am both honoured and humbled to return to this role. We do not have a minute to waste given the scale of the issues facing services.
“The pressures across all parts of the system have built up over many years and cannot be quickly or simply fixed. However, I am convinced that a way forward is achievable through investment, improved productivity and efficiency and changing how we organise some services.”
Dr Richard Wilson, chair of RCPsych NI, said:
"We welcome the return of power sharing and hope that will enable us to have even more productive negotiations about mental health funding and workforce planning.
“As clinicians working on the frontline, we must see full implementation and funding of the ten-year Mental Health Strategy for the benefit of all our patients across Northern Ireland."