Debate contribution: Autism Assessments: Waiting Times

Debate contribution by Mr Mike Nesbitt on 29 June 2026.

MLA: Mr Mike Nesbitt
Party at the time: Ulster Unionist Party
Date: 29 June 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Oral Answers to Questions
Heading: Autism Assessments: Waiting Times
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5644843

Text

I very much understand the Member's desire to see hard targets set, both on numbers and on timelines. I get it and am not against it, but, in the past number of days, two public inquiries have reported, and my conclusion from that is that there is something that has to go above timelines, targets, savings and transformation: patient safety. Patient safety must be number one. When we have the health summit tomorrow, where, I hope, all the leaders across all the Health and Social Care bodies will come together, I will make the point forcefully to them that patient safety is now our number-one concern, explicitly. It should always have been, but the history of public inquiries in recent years suggests that, far too often, it has not been and avoidable harm has occurred. Yes, targets, and yes, timelines, but above all is patient safety.

146 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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