Third Sector Leaders Welcome New Health Bodies

CO3, the membership body for charity chief executives, has today welcomed the launch of new health and social care bodies which they say will deliver a stronger role for the voluntary and community sector in health and social care.  Three new health organisations launched today, the Health and Social Care Board, the Public Health Agency and Patient and Client Council have liaison arrangements with the third (voluntary) sector, as well as sector involvement in planning and governance.

Welcoming the arrangements, Majella McCloskey CO3 Director stated;

"The third sector plays a key role in health and social care and is often relied on by patients and services users for crucial support, services and information.  We are pleased that the new organisations launched today include formal acknowledgement of this role, and the sector looks forward to working with the new organisations in delivering for patients and service users". 

The new organisations also place a key emphasis on tackling inequalities in health, through the development of the Public Health Agency and local community planning with local authorities.  Ms McCloskey continued;

"In the context of a recession, these new organisations and partnership arrangements offer a positive framework which could make a difference in the lives of our most vulnerable and excluded communities".