31st March 2026
The Southern Trust has launched its Annual Strategic Plan for 2026/2027, setting out how it will improve services, remain financially sustainable, and make better use of digital technology to modernise care.
The plan aligns resources, staff and regional priorities to deliver better outcomes, with a stronger focus on community-based services and reducing pressure on hospitals.
Launching the plan at Trust Board on Thursday 26 March, Elaine Wilson, Director of Planning, Performance and Informatics, highlighted the challenging environment facing the Trust and the progress made by staff:
“This year’s plan builds on the foundations of our Vision and Strategy and sets out a challenging but achievable agenda. It keeps patients, service users and carers at the centre of everything we do, while driving improvements in how we deliver care.
“When we launched our Vision and Strategy, we marked the occasion by planting trees across our sites. They symbolise growth, resilience and long-term commitment, and as they continue to grow, so too does our Vision and Strategy as we move into year two with renewed focus and purpose.”
Interim Chief Executive, Steve Spoerry, said:
“Our Vision and Strategy 2030 sets a clear direction for continuous improvement, better outcomes and a more sustainable organisation. This year, we will focus on making better use of our existing resources and supporting the shift towards care closer to home.”
Key commitments for 2026/27 include:
- Developing community-based services to reduce hospital admissions
- Supporting families and reducing the number of children in care
- Improving patient flow across services
- Expanding the use of digital technology
- Improving sustainability and energy efficiency
- Driving research, innovation and transformation
Trust Chair, Eileen Mullan, added:
“Year 2 builds on our progress and provides a clear direction for improving outcomes and embracing technology. It also recognises the challenges we face, including increasing demand, ageing infrastructure and financial pressures, and how we will respond to them.”
The Annual Strategic Plan for 2026/27 is available to read below and outlines how the Trust will continue to improve services for the communities it serves.