Debate contribution: Encompass: Costs
Debate contribution by Mr Robbie Butler on .
- MLA
- Mr Robbie Butler
- Party at the time
- Ulster Unionist Party
- Date
- 12 October 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Encompass: Costs
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5786369
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Member for his question. He is absolutely right to ask it. At this moment, absolutely nothing is at risk. The roll-out of Encompass is being done within the existing envelope. There is nothing at risk with regard to that. I have a day-1 brief concern that, I am sure, many of you will recognise, and it is a conversation in which I have certainly engaged with my departmental officials. It relates to the costs associated with tech, data and information systems and the long-term sustainability of those programmes. I do not want to be guilty in the future of not having done my due diligence to understand licensing costs and the value that we get out of those systems. My absolutely number-one, fundamental belief and ambition is that, in any investment that we make, whether that be on IT or data systems, patient outcomes must be central to that. Some of that will be in the efficiencies that we get with excellent systems like Encompass. However, that efficiency must be monitored continually and measured to ensure that we get value for money from the systems. The Health and Social Care system exists for better patient outcomes. Therefore, even if it is around data systems or licences, I want to ensure that we apply absolute due diligence to that and get the benefit from the systems that we need to get. During questions to the previous Minister, I rebuked a Member for walking in front of the Member who was speaking: it has just happened again. Members, please watch who is in their place to ask a question and to whom the Minister is responding, and neither walk in front of them nor behind them. It is rude, inappropriate and unprofessional.
293 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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