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FREEPHONE.: 0800 917 0222
FREEPHONE: 0800 917 0222

Invite to DoH Being Open Co-Production Group

 

The Department of Health launched a public consultation on 10 December 2025 asking for views on a draft ‘Being Open’ Framework in Northern Ireland. The consultation ran for 15 weeks and closed on 28 March 2025. There were 270 responses received.

The consultation responses have been analysed by the Department and a new working group was established to consider this analysis and finalise the Framework.  It is anticipated that the implementation of the Framework will commence in September 2025.

The Being Open Framework has been developed through extensive co-production and consultation with service users and carers, key stakeholders and staff.  It sets out policy proposals to support a culture of openness, honesty and transparency across the health and social care (HSC) system in Northern Ireland.  Feedback from the public consultation has already informed amendments to the Framework. 

The Department are currently establishing a smaller Co-production Group. The Department now invites service users and carers, who have not been involved in the Being Open work, to join the Co-production group in order to check the language used in terms of readability, consistency of terms used and ease of understanding within the Framework.

A copy of the Terms of Reference of the group are attached for information.  If you would like to contribute to this important final stage of shaping the Being Open Framework, please contact Being.open@health-ni.gov.uk by 31 July 2025.

It is the Department's intention to have three meetings of the group from August to early September 2025. They would be grateful if you could let them know as soon as possible if you are willing to join the group, providing a maximum 250-word paragraph detailing your experience of Personal Public Involvement (PPI).

Notification of acceptance to the group will be via email by 1 August 2025.

The Department of Health wish to take this opportunity to say thank you for kindly considering this request to help change and foster the culture of Northern Ireland HSC system to one which is open and just and where errors are used as learnings to improve patient safety.