Press Release from the Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social
Services and Public safety, which may be of interest to some of you.

David McDaid
LSE Health and Social Care

MINISTER LAUNCHES "HOPE FOR HEALTH" REPORT 

     "Hope for Health" is an excellent example of local communities
empowering themselves to participate fully in
     developing services responsive to their needs" said the Minister for
Health, Social Services and Public Safety,
     Ms Bairbre de Brún MLA, today launching the "Hope for Health" report,
commissioned by the Ballymagroarty and
     Hazelbank Community Partnership. 

     The Minister congratulated the Partnership on its initiative to
identify and inform the health and social needs of the
     communities within their area. 

     The report draws attention to the high level of deprivation and
unemployment in the area and highlights the health
     needs of the local community. 

     The Minister told those present that one of the aims of the New
Targeting Social Need (TSN) policy was to objectively
     target efforts and available resources on those who are most deprived.
Ms de Brún said, "New TSN is one of the
     Executive's key policies for tackling poverty and social disadvantage
and forms part of our wider agenda
     for developing a more fair, just and prosperous society. It addresses
social need and social exclusion by
     tackling unemployment, taking actions to reduce inequalities in health,
education and housing and
     promoting social inclusion." 

     The Minister said that she wanted communities to be involved in
decisions about their needs. Ms de Brún continued,
     "Hope for Health" highlights the importance of agencies working in
partnership with local community and
     voluntary organisations to improve standards in their area" 

     While in Derry, the Minister travelled to Derry City Council Offices
where she met John Meehan, Chairman of the Derry
     Healthy Cities project. She was introduced to members the Derry Healthy
Cities Strategy Group and heard about their
     work and plans for development. 

     NOTES TO EDITORS: 

     The Ballymagroarty and Hazelbank Community Partnership was established
in June 1996 to effect positive change in
     the Ballymagroarty and Hazelbank area. The aim of the Partnership is to
lessen the effects of deprivation in the area
     by contributing positively to the social, economic and environmental
regeneration of the area. 

     The "Hope for Health" report was commissioned by the Partnership to
identify the health and social needs within the
     area and to secure change and improve the quality of services and care.
Key findings include: a high level of
     unemployment combined with a generally low level of educational
attainment within the area; the lack of recreational
     facilities within the area; and the need for adequate health education
to promote healthier lifestyles. 

     The Partnership plans to circulate the report widely and use it to
raise awareness of the issues within the area. 

     Further information on the report can be obtained from: 

     Julie Costello 
     Community Health Co-ordinator 
     Ballymagroarty and Hazelbank Community Partnership 
     Unit 1, Springtown Shopping Centre 
     Derry BT48 0PU 
     (Tel: 028 7127 1977) 

     Dr Doros Michail 
     DHSSPS, Strategic Planning Branch 
     Castle Buildings 
     Stormont 
     Belfast 
     (Tel: 028 9052 2327)