A joint statement agreeing core NHS values was today agreed by health ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland during a historic first meeting.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon hosted a meeting at St Andrew's House in Edinburgh with Northern Irish Minister of Health Michael McGimpsey and Welsh Minister for Health and Social Services Edwina Hart to discuss health matters of mutual interest.
It is the first time Health Ministers from the three nations have hosted such a joint meeting.
The joint statement is as follows:
"The Health Ministers of the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Government welcome the opportunity presented by their joint meeting to exchange experiences and discuss opportunities about the future direction of health and healthcare in our respective countries. This was a historic first meeting and we look forward to extending inter-governmental cooperation on healthcare in the future.
"Our three Governments support strongly the founding principles of the NHS. As we approach its 60th anniversary, we remain committed to ensuring that the NHS in each country provides a universal and comprehensive service with equal access for all, free at the point of use and based on clinical need rather than the ability to pay.
"The NHS in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will work to:
* Reduce health inequalities
* Promote public health and enable health improvement
* Improve the quality of healthcare services
* Secure best value for the taxpayers who pay for NHS services
"Our NHS will be based on strong partnerships between the Government, the public, patients, staff and their trade unions. We believe that such partnerships can inform and drive improvements in the quality of our services and enable our patients to enjoy safer, better, more local and faster access to the care they require. We are determined to listen and respond to the experiences, needs and aspirations of our patients as we design and deliver healthcare services.
"The Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Government are committed to ensuring that the NHS remains a public service of which our citizens can be justifiably proud. The demand for services is increasing and changing in each country and we believe that effective intergovernmental co-operation can play a significant role in shaping our responses to the challenges we face."
