Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s Regeneration and Community Committee has voted to send a stern response opposing a Department of Health consultation around an Integrated Care System (ICS) Draft Framework.

The vote passed comfortably by majority but members were split down party lines.

The Future Planning Model introduces the concept of an ICS with more localised input and the intention to deliver around health and wellbeing, enabling long, healthy active lives.

This will improve outcomes and reduce  health inequalities, through collaboration and partnership in the design, delivery and management of health, social and community services.

Independent Councillor Donal O’Cofaigh said: “It appears Stormont or at least the Minister for Health has decided Northern Ireland will leapfrog over Wales and Scotland by adopting the Tory approach to NHS piecemeal privatisation. Independent practitioners, which  means private sector operators … will oversee the procurement budgets of NHS purchasing. That’s a massive conflict of interest.”

He felt buying-in services turn patients into customers and: “This will create an internal market where the ICS buy services from the Trust, opening the door for future privatisation at grassroots level. There will be minimum public involvement and no trade union representation for staff. This is a desperate attack on the fundamentals of our NHS.”

He proposed a stern response opposing the ICS approach and any form of future privatisation, while urging a return to original NHS principles of a public health service free at the point of delivery.

Seconding, councillor Eamon Keenan stated: “This is another step toward privatisation. We don’t need more costs and red tape. Due to the vagueness and a possible hidden agenda in this plan, we need to strongly oppose.”

Independent Councillor Josephine Deehan pointed out: “The NHS is for people and patients, to ensure  healthcare needs are met. At present the way care is delivered isn’t working, particularly in rural communities. We’ve had threats to our hospitals from under-staffing and under-resourcing. We’ve seen a two-tier system where people living for example in Belfast do seem to get better access to care. That needs to be addressed.”

Sinn Fein’s Councillor Thomas O’Reilly said: “It seems every year we are presented with another idea to improve our health service.”

He referred to the Pathfinder meetings, previously very much to the fore, but not mentioned for some considerable time.

“Where did that all go?” Councillor O’Reilly asked. “How much money has been spent on consultation after consultation on another idea how to change healthcare? It’s just staggering.”

Councillor Robert Irvine, Ulster Unionist said: “There’s already a two-tier system. Some people take out private healthcare purely as back-up. The unfortunate things is there have been advances in medicine, the longevity of the population and the change in working patterns. These have put unprecedented demands on the NHS. Unless you pump oceans of money to keep it going, the NHS has to change.”

He continued: “If we are of a mindset it is free, accessing anything you want from the health service, that requires a huge increase in resource. There will need to be a cutback in what is supplied and possibly looking at monetary participation by everybody to ensure equality in provision of service.”

“Taken aback” by these remarks Councillor Emmet McAleer, Independent said the NHS: “Is being driven into the ground by the Tory party who want it privatised and moved to a for-profit provision. Look at what’s gone on through the absolute corruption of the Tory government. There’s no way we can stand over it. We pay for our NHS through taxes, some of which are going up. We need to send back the strongest possible response.”

Councillor McAleer concluded by quoting Nye Bevan who established the NHS in 1948 while Minister of Health, who said: “The NHS will last as long as there are folk with a faith to fight for it.”

The matter went to a vote which came in 24 to 11 in favour of a strongly opposed response, with both unionist groupings against.