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Mr Robin Swann: Assembly records
All of Mr Robin Swann’s imported questions, contributions and motions in this mandate, newest first, including those assessed as not qualifying, uncertain or not yet analysed.
I do not think that it was fair that the Department of Health had its funding slashed so dramatically and that it may be under similar conditions in the forthcoming financial year. The measures that had to be taken in the absence of an Executive, a Minister and a recurrent Budget were drastic, and I hope that next…
The Member's question raises a very important point about where we move with the development of our women's health action plan as we take it to the next step of developing a strategy from the action plan. We announced the introduction of primary human papillomavirus (HPV) testing. When that is introduced, my hope is…
I thank the Member for his question. The ongoing cervical cytology review in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust involves up to 17,500 women. It contains two elements: a review of the cervical screening slides held by the trust for women who have had a smear test; and a call forward inviting women to have a new…
I thank the Member for her question on safe staffing. It is legislation that I want to introduce. It is in my legislative programme for the coming year, if the Executive support it. I am committed to introducing such a Bill in this mandate, and work continues in partnership with key stakeholders to ensure that a…
I thank the Member for that. As I said, we have published updates, and I am committed to working with stakeholders from across the system on the strategy's continued implementation. I again caution, however, that my Department will require significant funding in order to do that. It is encouraging to note that that…
I thank the Member for her comments, specifically on the workforce plan and the workforce strategy. She will be aware that my Department's ambition for developing our workforce is outlined in 'Health and Social Care Workforce Strategy 2026 — Delivering for our People'. I was pleased that the strategy's second action…
I thank the Member. Following on from the discussion that we had when he raised the question for urgent oral answer, the 30% to 35% divergence is from where they would have been in 2008 had inflationary pay increases been enabled year-on-year. The Member will be aware that that was a national decision based on…
I thank the Member for his question, which follows on from his question for urgent oral answer a couple of weeks ago. Pay negotiations with Agenda for Change trade unions completed on 22 February, and I wish to commend the constructive approach of trade union colleagues to negotiations. Under the proposed settlement,…
I thank the Member for the question. His party leader, the Justice Minister, and I have promoted the increased use of naloxone by not just my blue-light services — the Ambulance Service and the Fire and Rescue Service — but the PSNI and other community settings that have the appropriate support. As regards an overdose…
I know the Member well enough to accept what she says. I know about her engagement on the issue and her passion for and commitment to it. She knows me well enough as well to know what will happen when the money and funding come forward. Co-occurring mental health and addiction problems and dual-diagnosis problems were…
I thank the Member for her question. Addressing the harm that is related to alcohol and other drugs is a key priority for my Department, which leads on the Northern Ireland Executive's 10-year substance use strategy entitled 'Preventing Harm, Empowering Recovery'. The strategy aims to directly prevent and reduce the…
I thank the Member. The original question from Mrs Dodds referred to the cancer strategy. One of the strategy's first aims and enablers was about raising cancer awareness across all the different cancer sectors and subspecialties in order to make sure that people are aware of not just symptoms but treatment pathways.…
I thank the Member for an important question on how to take what we are doing now and future-proof and develop it. Those rapid diagnostic centres were established in four of the five trust areas so that a vague symptom pathway was available for patients with non-specific but worrying symptoms that may indicate cancer.…
I thank the Member for his supplementary question. One of his party colleagues has raised that directly with me. There has been a piece of work on the identification of pathways. That was to make sure that clear pathways were established in our system for everybody who received further notice about treatments and red…
I thank the Member for her supplementary question. She may be aware that another Member has tabled that question for oral answer. I will give her an initial answer in regards to the work that is being done. Women affected by the review in the Southern Trust will receive letters from the trust in the next few days to…
I thank the Member for her point and for her support on the issue, because I know where she is coming from. Having listened intently to the deputy First Minister's answers on the need for a recurrent Budget, I ask everyone in the House to fully support and endorse that. We have always been vocal that a single-year…
I thank the Member for her question. I am glad to have been asked about the cancer strategy, as I consider it one of the most important documents currently in my Department. As Members will recall, it was published in March 2022 with the aim of transforming our cancer service to ensure better care for those who need…
I thank the Member for his point, and I know where he is coming from. However, it is not about taking refuge. It is about identifying to the House and updating Members on the process that has taken place in England, where they are looking at a phased implementation strategy over the next five years. I need to be clear…
I thank the Member for his question on how we look at our overall service of supporting people living with diabetes and their carers and for mentioning the NICE guidelines on changes in support devices, should that be closed loops or CGMs, that we must ensure are taken into a wider piece of work on where we sit. As I…
I thank the Member for her point. I am not fully aware of the 2016 recommendation, but we are taking steps to support people living with diabetes, including the regional pump framework that we have set up, and also in how we look at other advances and support mechanisms, whether that is the closed-loop system or other…
I thank the Member for her point, which is in connection with the previous supplementary. Those continuous glucose-monitoring (CGM) devices are steadily becoming a more in-demand way of monitoring diabetes control for people on intensive insulin therapy. There are many such devices available to support people living…
I thank the Member for her query about the closed-loop service. In December 2023, as the Member stated, NICE updated its guidance with recommendations on the use of a hybrid closed-loop system. The guidance provides evidence-based recommendations on hybrid closed-loop systems for managing blood-glucose levels in type…
In January 2022, I formally announced the setting up of the regional insulin pump service to mark the 100th anniversary of the use of insulin to treat diabetes. That announcement was supported by £200 million of funding by my Department to enable that life-changing service to be established. The investment makes…
The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Powers to Act for the Protection of Public Health) Order (Northern Ireland) 2023 That the Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Powers to Act for the Protection of Public Health) Order (Northern Ireland) 2023 be approved.
The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Powers to Act for the Protection of Public Health) (No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2023 That the Coronavirus Act 2020 (Extension of Powers to Act for the Protection of Public Health) (No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2023 be approved.