The Northern Irish devolved government is kicking off the fresh parliament with a consultation on a new Public Health Bill that aims to replace the Public Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1967.
The Northern Irish Government says the act from the 1960s has a focus on infectious diseases, but this new bill would extend the public health legislative scope out to include:
- Biological
- Chemical
- Radiological
This represents the overarching principle of the legislation; protect the public against the various forms of infection and contamination, in turn making it easier to respond to public health emergencies.
The “all hazards” approach intends to bring Northern Ireland in line with the laws from other UK jurisdictions. The new bill would also align with the World Health Organisation International Health Regulations from 2005.
“Our current public health legislative framework needs to be updated in order that Northern Ireland can respond to 21st century public health emergencies,” said health minister, Mike Nesbitt.
The bill includes proposals that centre around empowering agencies and clarifying authorities in three key areas.
Registered medical practitioners have a duty to notify the Public Health Agency of any incident that may endanger public health; said agency has the power to investigate and risk assess the threat of an infection, contamination or infectious disease; and the same organisation has the power to respond to the threat.
Any intervention must be proportionate to the public health threat faced, though — in other words, it must comply with the Human Rights Act 1998.
This is the second consultation in the country on public health, with the first coming nearly a decade ago in September 2015. That focused on straight forward questions around current practice as well as a review of the Public Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1967.
This consultation is based upon the recommendations that came from the aforementioned review and has been further informed by learnings acquired during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Nesbitt added: “The Public Health Bill will give the Public Health Agency powers to investigate, risk assess and respond to infectious diseases and other infections or contaminants that affect public health.
“It will bring our Public Health legislation into further alignment internationally and provide the Department with powers to make regulations that clarify the roles and responsibilities of those tasked with delivering new health protection measures.”
The measures would also update certain powers pertaining to restrictions on employment, quarantine, isolation, and medical examination, as well as clarify the roles and responsibilities of different authorities.
The consultation will be open for 12 weeks and is set to close on 27 September 2024.
Mike Nesbitt met with new health secretary Wes Streeting over the weekend and has arranged a face-to-face meeting in Northern Ireland soon.
He said: “I used today’s opportunity to highlight the issues facing health and social in Northern Ireland, including the significant budgetary challenge and the growing demand on services.”
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