Debate contribution: Regional Trauma Network: Update
Debate contribution by Mr Mike Nesbitt on .
- MLA
- Mr Mike Nesbitt
- Party at the time
- Ulster Unionist Party
- Date
- 8 April 2025
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Regional Trauma Network: Update
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4919678
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I am pleased to say that, since the beginning of the 2023-24 financial year, around 9,000 individuals have availed themselves of services in the Regional Trauma Network through the Victims and Survivors Service (VSS) and its 46 community and voluntary sector partner organisations. Around 600 individuals have availed themselves of services through the health and social care trusts' Regional Trauma Network teams. To date, the total number of cross-referrals has been low, but that is not unexpected at this stage, and numbers continue to grow. The latest figures, as of the end of December 2024, are 60 referrals from trusts to community and voluntary groups, with 123 referrals from community and voluntary groups to trust trauma teams. At present, there are 424 people in therapy across all trust trauma teams. The service user experience captured has been positive. Of major significance, in addition to direct referrals between statutory and community and voluntary sector organisations, is the fact that the RTN is taking forward additional work across a number of work streams, including training, research, monitoring and evaluation and children and young people, recognising the intergenerational impact of the conflict. The Regional Trauma Network also contributes to the overall ambition of the mental health strategy. Ultimately, the network and the service that it provides make a real difference to real people who have suffered physical and psychological harm. It offers a range of supports and interventions to address the long-term consequences of their traumatic experiences.
244 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.03 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- Subject area: Legacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarism.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.02 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.01 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.57 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.03 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Legacy of the Troubles, victims and paramilitarism | 0.97 |
| Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits | 0.02 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.01 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:21 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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