All of Mr Mike Nesbitt’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not flagged, uncertain or not yet analysed.
I have met the hospice movement on a number of occasions; in fact, just last week, I was with the Foyle Hospice in Derry/Londonderry. I am keen to do more for all of the hospices. I am also keen that they become part of the neighbourhood network, because palliative and end-of-life care does not happen solely within…
I am not sure that "asleep at the wheel" is an appropriate analogy, given that we are talking about ambulance response times. However, I am certainly up for looking at the issue in more detail. You have put it on my radar. So far, I have been focused on looking at response times against the targets, but you have given…
I thank the Member for his good wishes. I emphasise to him that I was fully focused on the health brief when I was the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, because all decisions, bar a very few, were delegated. It will make no particular change to my focus between now and 6 May 2027. On his specific question, no, I do…
I have met the mothers from the 'Spotlight' programme on a number of occasions, and I can assure the Member that they are absolutely aware that the £13·1 million was not exclusively for short breaks. Indeed, I very recently spoke to a relative of one of those mums who was very complimentary about the progress that we…
The funding is being spent on initiatives to improve family and community support services for children with disabilities, to increase short break provision and to expand the specialist care programme. It was never exclusively about short breaks. The trusts have increased contracts with voluntary and community…
I do not speak for any previous Health Minister. I have been in my post for about 20 months. It is such a broad portfolio that it took me a number of months to get my head around where we were. One of the conclusions was that we have to be a lot clearer, not just internally but externally, about saying, "Here is what…
I, too, welcome our visitors. My Department employs a broad range of recognised health economic modelling tools to inform and support financial decision-making across the system. The tools enable us to assess different scenarios in a structured and evidence-based way that ensures that decisions are grounded in an…
I thank the Member. As I said, the policy requires the support of the Executive. I await formal confirmation of the position of Executive colleagues. Time is running out. I add that, prior to 6 April 2026, I am required to either introduce legislation to set that minimum unit price or: "make a statement to the…
I applaud the Chief Medical Officer, because Professor Sir Michael McBride is passionate about introducing minimum unit pricing of alcohol. I am passionate about MUP on alcohol. There is really solid evidence: most recently, the Chief Medical Officer and I attended a presentation by Sheffield University, which has…
I thank the Member for the question. I am aware of the PEACE PLUS money for that project, and it is very welcome, but I do not have specific details on it. I will welcome the latest stats; I was not aware that they were coming so soon. However, think about stats for avoidable deaths. There are hundreds of deaths due…
I very much welcome that statement from the Member, and I encourage him to have a word with his Executive ministerial colleagues and encourage them to support the introduction of minimum unit pricing (MUP) of alcohol.
While the use of alcohol is normalised here in Northern Ireland, it causes significant harm. Notwithstanding the pressure that excessive alcohol consumption puts on the health service, research has shown that the full societal cost to the Northern Ireland economy could be as high as £900 million a year, with up to…
I certainly agree with the Member that £5 sounds like very good value for money, but I return to the fact that we follow, without exception as far as I know, the UK National Screening Committee recommendations on these things. It looked at this in 2018 and reviewed its recommendations in 2025. It found that there was…
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a rare inherited condition that can cause muscle weakness. It affects movement, speech, swallowing and breathing. There are different types of SMA, and the severity varies from person to person, but, by and large, it gets worse over time. However, there are medicines and other…
We will implement the learning disability service model. That has been greeted positively, by and large, across the interested parties. The Member will also be aware that we are moving at pace to try to introduce the neighbourhood model of care. The fabled shift left will happen in the coming financial year: 2026-27.…
The Department's children's learning disability services have implemented the learning disability service model and the children's disability framework, putting in place a regional transitions protocol, including an easy-read version, that has been informed and influenced through engagement with young people, families…
I will answer the Member's direct question directly: I am not considering introducing legislation in this mandate, because we have run out of time. There are several pieces of legislation that I would love to see going through the Assembly between now and purdah, in March 2027, of which that is one. We are certainly…
Lifelong care and support planning for people with disabilities requires all professionals involved in the process to adopt a proactive, person-centred and adaptable approach as required. That constitutes a shift from reactive, service-led interventions. Our integrated Health and Social Care (HSC) system places the…
I have committed an additional £13 million; that is the answer that the Member seeks. That £13 million for endoscopy will see investment and yield 21 and a quarter sessions per week to resource all uncommissioned sessions. That will happen by the end of next month and will be followed by subsequent expansion into…
I agree with the Member about the impact of waiting times on patients and their families and friends. I do not have an answer to the Member's specific question about Belfast City Hospital. Generally speaking, however, we are trying to deal with regional variation, particularly where it is not reasonable variation. I…
First, I am extremely sorry to hear that your constituent's procedure was cancelled not once but twice. It is certainly a sharp focus of the Department and of Professor Mark Taylor, who looks after elective care regionally for me, that we understand and deal with why there are so many cancellations. I can tell the…
Inpatient treatment for cancer patients, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and treatment for haematological malignancy is delivered through two cancer centres. The first is the Northern Ireland Cancer Centre at Belfast City Hospital, which provides 49 oncology inpatient beds and a further 50 inpatient beds for…
I was very interested in what Michelle had to say about a bridge. If you spoke to road engineers today, they would probably tell you that they would build the A20 down the centre of the peninsula as a spine, with the side roads coming off it like ribs. However, we are where we are. I have a great fondness for the A20.…