// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Minister announces expert committee to review health services
Robbie Butler said the committee will advise on major or controversial proposals for permanent changes to services
A new independent expert advisory committee is to review how services will be delivered across hospitals in Northern Ireland.
Health minister Robbie Butler said the Reconfiguration Committee will provide him with advice on major or controversial proposals for permanent changes to health and social care services.
It follows a major political and public row around the future of Emergency General Surgery at Causeway Hospital which triggered the resignation of Mike Nesbitt.
Announcing the move on Thursday, Butler said it will bring together independent clinical and public-interest expertise.
"Crucially, it will be able to scrutinise the evidence underpinning proposals rather than simply accepting that evidence at face value.
"It will consider patient safety, service quality, clinical effectiveness, and long-term sustainability," the minister said.
BBC News NI understands that the committee will be made up of health professionals most likely from outside of Northern Ireland who will provide independent advice on how health trusts should proceed.
It is expected that a panel will review evidence already gathered from public consultations including recommendations made in previous reports from several Royal Colleges and Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) teams.
There have been several major reviews and inquiries into the Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Service (NIHSCS) which included the number of hospitals in NI and the duplication of some services across hospital sites.