Department of Health

Before 9th May 2016 the Department of Health was known as the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Agencies and Other Associated Bodies

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

The Trust is one of five NHS trusts created on 1 April 2007 by the then Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Business Services Organisation

The Business Services Organisation provides a broad range of regional business support functions and specialist professional services to the health and social care sector in Northern Ireland.

Children’s Court Guardian Agency for Northern Ireland

Children’s Court Guardian Agency for Northern Ireland came into place on 6th March 2023. The guardian ad litem is appointed by the Courts under the Children (NI) Order 1995 to safeguard the interests of children who are the subject of Court proceedings.

Health and Social Care Board

The Health and Social Care Board was a statutory organisation which arranged health and social care services for the population of Northern Ireland. It ceased to exist in March 2022.

Northern Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland)

The Trust is one of five National Health Service trusts created on 1 April 2007 by the then Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. Health and Social Care Trust

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service provides emergency, urgent and primary care services throughout Northern Ireland. This includes response to emergency calls and transporting vulnerable patients to hospital appointments. The service is also equipped to respond to major incidents.

Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service

The Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service (NIBTS) is an independent, special agency of the Department of Health in Northern Ireland, responsible for collecting blood and providing a supply to hospitals in the country. An emergency Blood Transfusion Service was established at the Royal Victoria Hospital in 1941 as a result of the Second World War. NIBTS was established by the Ministry of Health in 1946.

Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) (formerly Northern Ireland Fire Brigade) is the statutory fire and rescue service for Northern Ireland. The NIFRS is overseen by the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Board, which in turn is subordinate to the Department of Health

Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency

The Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency is responsible for funding, managing and supporting postgraduate medical and dental education within the Northern Ireland Deanery. It provides a range of services for those engaged in the delivery of postgraduate Medical and Dental education and training.

Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nursing & Midwifery

The Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nursing and Midwifery supports professional development in the key areas of best practice, education and performance. The Council is now closed.

Northern Ireland Social Care Council

The Council was founded as the regulatory body for the social care workforce in Northern Ireland under the Health and Personal Social Services Act (Northern Ireland) 2001. The Council was established to ensure health and social care workers are regulated against accordingly.

Patient and Client Council (Northern Ireland)

The Patient and Client Council was established under legislation on the 1st April 2009 as part of the reform of Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland, replacing the health and social service councils.

Public Health Agency

The Public Health Agency was established in 1989 under a major reform of health structures in Northern Ireland. Their purpose is to protect and improve the health and social wellbeing of the people of Northern Ireland and to reduce health inequalities through strong partnerships with individuals, communities and key public, private and voluntary organisations.

Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority

The Department of Health is the sponsor department for the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA). The RQIA is an independent body responsible for monitoring and inspecting the availability and quality of health and social care services in Northern Ireland, and encouraging improvements in the quality of those services.

Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland

The Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI) was established in 2012 following the publication of the Safeguarding Board Act (2011). The SBNI has replaced the Regional Child Protection Committee with an extended role to include the wider area of safeguarding as well as statutory child protection.

South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland)

The Trust is one of five National Health Service trusts created on 1 April 2007 by the then Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Southern Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland)

The Trust is one of five National Health Service trusts created on 1 April 2007 by the then Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Western Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland)

The Trust is one of five National Health Service trusts created on 1 April 2007 by the then Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Publications in this Department

Other Publications (Department of Health)

Consultation papers, briefing documents, inquiries, reports and reviews (non-serial).