Interministerial Group for Health and Social Care communiqué, 11 December 2025
Published 26 March 2026
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Fourth meeting of the Interministerial Group (IMG) for Health and Social Care, 11 December 2025
Location: online
Attendees
Chair: Mike Nesbitt, Minister of Health, Northern Ireland Executive
Other ministers in attendance:
- Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Scottish Government
- Jeremy Miles, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Welsh Government
- Dr Zubir Ahmed, Parliamentary under Secretary of State for Health Innovation and Safety
Apologies:
- Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, UK Government
What was discussed
This was the fourth meeting of the IMG for Health and Social Care. Minister Nesbitt chaired the meeting. Ministers discussed:
- health inequalities
- patient safety and safe care
- health reform and reset
The discussion included reference to the Marmot principles, the approach to area-based interventions in each of the jurisdictions and the need for a whole government approach to tackling issues. Ministers shared statistics on healthy life expectancy across the 4 nations.
Health inequalities
The ministers affirmed a shared commitment to tackling health inequalities, recognising areas of commonality across the UK and the wider drivers of inequity, including social deprivation.
Ministers acknowledged that reducing disparities requires co-ordinated strategies that address both structural and behavioural determinants of health. They highlighted the importance of:
- national screening programmes
- initiatives to promote healthier diets
- robust legislation on tobacco and vaping products
The meeting also noted the role of minimum unit pricing for alcohol as a key measure to mitigate harm and improve outcomes.
Collectively, the cross-government strategic approach to address the wider determinants of ill health sits alongside and includes interventions focused on place and socially excluded groups to ensure that all communities can benefit from fairer access to health and wellbeing.
Patient safety and safe care
The ministers also addressed patient safety, with a focus on the importance of safety culture and noting the relative lack of recognition for the many successes achieved across health services.
Ministers emphasised that while scrutiny is vital, it must be balanced with acknowledgement of progress and innovation that improves patient outcomes.
Ministers reflected on and welcomed the role of the Hillsborough Law in embedding transparency and accountability and reaffirmed their collective commitment to an open and just culture in healthcare.
By strengthening a culture of candour and learning, the 4 nations emphasised that patient safety remains paramount and that both challenges and achievements are communicated with integrity.
Collaboration across the 4 nations was highlighted as essential to sharing best practice, learning from experience, driving continuous improvement in safety standards and in embedding a culture of openness and transparency.
Since the IMG meeting, ministers have met to discuss the Hughes Report. Officials meet regularly to discuss this topic.
Health reform and reset
The ministers recognised the significant challenges facing the health and social care workforce and underlined the need to relieve pressures on staff while ensuring their wellbeing and dignity.
They emphasised that the use of artificial intelligence should be directed towards assisting staff and reducing administrative burdens, rather than replacing vital human interaction.
Ministers acknowledged the ongoing challenges of corridor care and the importance of ending moral injury experienced by frontline staff.
The meeting further highlighted the necessity of developing a workforce model that is responsive to the needs of the current population, ensuring sustainable recruitment, retention and delivery of high-quality care across all communities.
Other points of discussion under ‘any other business’ (AOB)
Ministers briefly discussed:
- Exercise Pegasus, noting the significant learning to date and ongoing evaluation and lessons capture
- US deal on medicines pricing and life sciences
- anti-obesity medication - potential topic for future IMG meeting
Next meeting
The meeting closed with agreement that the next IMG for Health and Social Care meeting will take place in March 2026 and will be chaired by Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Scottish Government.