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11 February 2009 Health Minister launches new way of assessing older peoples needs
Health Minister Michael McGimpsey today launched a new tool for assessing the health and social care needs of older people in Northern Ireland. The Department of Health commissioned the development of NISAT from the University of Ulster led by Professor Brendan McCormack and Dr Brian Taylor. At the launch, the Minister outlined how older people would benefit from the introduction of the new tool. He said: “NISAT will give older people a real opportunity to have their voices heard and to be at the very heart of the assessment process. “The process will focus on a person’s abilities and strengths rather than their disabilities. It will also reduce the stress experienced by many older people who are frustrated when faced by a stream of well meaning professionals all wanting to ask them the same questions.” The introduction of NISAT will standardise and streamline assessment and care planning processes, thereby simplifying access to community care services for older people. The Minister continued: “We are unique in that we have developed a single assessment tool specifically designed for the health and social care system in Northern Ireland, and that now gives us a golden opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of older people here. ”It is the first time that older people across the country will be assessed using the same tool so that we can ensure that, whether they live in rural Fermanagh, urban Belfast or on the North Coast of Antrim, they can expect to be assessed in exactly the same way.” It is expected that NISAT will be rolled out across all the health and social care trusts by June 2010.
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