What is Investing for Health (IFH)?
The Investing for Health Strategy was created in 2002 by the Northern Ireland Executive, as the new Public Health Strategy for N.I. to address the fact that levels of ill-health here are among the highest in Europe. The Strategy represents a shift in Public Health Policy established under the programme for Government in Northern Ireland.
It seeks to:
- Address differences in health experienced by people across the province;
- Work to improve the health of our population.
It aims to:
- Improve the health of our people;
- Reduce inequalities in health between geographic areas, social and monority groups.
What is Western Investing for Health?
Role: Western IFH is the body charged by Government with advancing the IFH Public Health Strategy in the Western Health & Social Services Board area.
Structure: The Western IFH Partnership brings 28 different organisations together who can all make a contribution to achieving healthier, happier, longer lives for all people in the Western Board area.
Finance: The funding for Western Investing for Health is administered from the Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety (NI).
Why should we be involved?
You should be involved as health is everyone's responsibility. Our quality of life and health is affected by many factors, e.g. quality of education, quality of housing, environment, social networks, access to services, income levels and lifestyle. Every individual, community and organisation has a responsibility to tackle the problems underlying the main causes of ill-health. The health sector alone cannot possibly address main causes of our ill-health.
What is different about WIFH?
WIFH has a focus on ill-health prevention and health improvement. The Partnership approach adopted ensures the development of a broader commitment to change from the voluntary, statutory and private sectors.
Is this just the Statutory Sector looking for us to do work on the cheap?
No. The creation of a genuine partnership with the statutory, community/voluntary and private sectors is recognition that we cannot address the main problems we have identified without the help of all. It will always be about money, we can make a huge impact by joining existing resources together to maximise the benefits gained or lobbying for policy change.
What is the link between HAZ ad IFH?
Western IFH is the local body for delivery of the NI Public Health Strategy. Western HAZ is a constituent part of IFH and takes its strategic lead from the IFH Partnership. With its more specific focus Western HAZ dovetails its work with the IFH Strategic themes of Early Years and Later Years. Both organisations share the same Partnershp members.
Why should there be investment in IFH when there are all the other cutbacks?
Whilst we recognise that there will always be a need to address current levels of ill-health, we need to focus on preventing that ill-health to begin with. IFH is making its investment now for long-term savings in the future.
Is this just another Health Board Initiative?
No. Although housed within the Western Health Board, all 28 organisations involved in the Partnership have ownership and responsibility for Investing for Health.
What is the role of the Sub-Groups?
The role of the Sub-Groups is to drive forward the actions within the Western IFH Strategy. The four themed groups - Early Years, Teenage Transition, Adulthood and Later Years meet regularly to prioritise activity, consider emerging issues and utilise external expertise.
Do the Sub - Groups have any money?
Money is not the focus of the Sub-Groups, however they do have access to a limited investment budget with which they can either initiate pilot programmes; level resources; or encourage other investment.
How do we influence your agenda?
Through two years of public consultation, people in the WHSSB area have already set the Western Investing for Health Partnership agenda. Priorities for action are reviewed on an annual basis but if you feel that there are other issues that we should consider, you can feed these into the four Sub-Groups. Initial contact can be made by telephoning the IFH office on
How do you make decisions on how you spend your money?
WIFH has two budget streams, a core operational budget, which is overseen by a Management Sub-Group and a development/investment budget. Our budget priorities are aligned with the needs expressed by the community through our consultations and decision-making authority for expenditure rests with the Partnership Members.
How do you measure your effectiveness?
Western IFH has developed a series of monitoring and evaluation tools against which all activities are measured at regular intervals. We have also created a baseline of health status in the West against which all future progress will be measured. Pilot projects are also independently evaluated.
Would it make any difference if you weren't here?
Yes. The value that IFH brings is the co-ordination and support of the multi-agency approach needed to ensure better health for the population.
How do you inform the public about what you do?
WIFH uses a variety of communication methods. Updates on progress are communicated via this website and when appropriate, via press releases, Community Networks and Partner communication routes.
What do you want us to do?
We want you to recognise the important role that you can play in improving the health of our population. Having recognised the role we will facilitate you to maximise your contribution, for example:
- The media can help with the promotion of positive health messages;
- Education can look at the support available to young people in school;
- Community groups can look at what services they can provide to improve quality of life in their areas;
- The individual can look at their own and their family's lifestyle and try to make changes.
What are we involved in and what will it cost us?
You should be involved as health is everyone's responsibility. Every individual, community and organisation has a responsibility to tackle the problems underlying the main causes of ill-health.
It needn't cost anything. Health improvement can be achieved through better utilisation of resources, changes in policy and improved working practice.
What are your links to other Partnerships?
WIFH recognises that communication of its objectives is crucial to its success. As a result we seek to maximise the opportunities for communication through pro-active linkage with any network that can assist us to spread our message. In turn we will work to support those networks in achieving improvements in the health and well-being of their audiences.
