Health Minister Mike Nesbitt today reiterated his dedication to addressing health inequalities across Northern Ireland while speaking at a Primary Care Health Inequalities Symposium in Ballymena.

The event, organised by the Public Health Agency (PHA), The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGPNI), and Queen's University Belfast, brought together healthcare professionals and policymakers to discuss the role of primary care in reducing disparities in health outcomes. Minister Nesbitt emphasised the Making Life Better public health strategy, which adopts a cross-departmental approach to tackling the social, economic, and environmental factors contributing to poor health in deprived communities.

Minister Nesbitt stated: "Health inequalities remain one of the greatest challenges we face in Northern Ireland. Where someone is born, grows up, lives and works should not determine their health outcomes - yet we know that in our most deprived communities, people are more likely to experience poorer health, shorter life expectancy, and greater barriers to accessing care. That is why my department is committed to targeted, place-based solutions that bring health support directly to those who need it most. The Live Better initiative is a key step in this journey, ensuring we work alongside communities to address health inequalities at their source."

The Live Better programme, launched under Minister Nesbitt's leadership, is currently being piloted in Belfast (Court DEA) and Derry/Londonderry (Moor DEA). It builds upon existing public health initiatives by implementing targeted interventions, improving access to healthcare services, and strengthening community partnerships to address the underlying causes of poor health outcomes.  

During the symposium, a session focused on "Live Better – Strengthening Relationships with Communities," exploring the role of GP practices as central hubs for tackling health inequalities. Minister Nesbitt acknowledged the critical role of primary care in early intervention and prevention, ensuring that health support reaches those most in need before conditions worsen.   The Minister also outlined his three-year strategy to stabilise, reform, and deliver primary care services, which includes the phased expansion of Multi-Disciplinary Teams (MDTs) across Northern Ireland. He confirmed that a roadmap for the rollout of MDTs, prioritising GP practices in the most deprived areas, would be published by April 2025.  

Furthermore, he acknowledged the success of the Deep End approach, a model implemented in Scotland, and confirmed his department would explore similar initiatives to support Northern Ireland's most vulnerable communities.  

In his closing remarks, Minister Nesbitt reaffirmed his department's commitment to reducing health inequalities through collaborative, community-driven healthcare solutions: "We must move beyond a one size fits all approach to healthcare. Tackling health inequalities requires a united effort - one that brings together government, health professionals and communities to create lasting change. Through Making Life Better, Live Better, and the expansion of Multi-Disciplinary Teams, we are taking the necessary steps to build a fairer, healthier future for everyone in Northern Ireland."

Heather Reid, Director of Nursing at the Public Health Agency, highlighted the crucial role of GPs in addressing health inequalities: "GPs work at the heart of our communities and are key in addressing health inequalities. Alongside the ongoing work in the Live Better demonstration areas, events like this symposium are providing opportunities for organisations to come together to collaborate, share information and generate ideas on community-centred approaches to help support people who are impacted the most by health inequalities."

Dr Ursula Mason, RCGPNI Chair, concluded the event by emphasising the college's priority in reducing health inequalities. "Reducing the increasing gap in health inequalities is one of our College's key priorities. We want every patient to be able to receive the best care possible despite their circumstances, background, or characteristics, and to ensure that general practice as an anchor institution within our communities can continue to champion the reduction of these inequalities.

"Support for Deep End projects, which bring together GPs working in areas of socio-economic deprivation to identify practical ways to address health inequalities and to learn from one another, can be a real driver for positive change, for patients and their communities."