Debate contribution: Thrombectomy Service
Debate contribution by Mrs Diane Dodds on .
- MLA
- Mrs Diane Dodds
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 10 February 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Opposition Business
- Heading
- Thrombectomy Service
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5435835
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Thank you to the Opposition for tabling the motion because this is an important debate. It is an opportunity, Minister, for us to change lives by providing a 24/7 service. That makes sense in every way. It makes sense because of the amazing outcomes that can happen but also because the quality of life of someone who has a major disability after a stroke will be much poorer and their dependence on the health service will be much greater. Therefore, it makes an enormous amount of sense. Like others, I welcome the folks from the Stroke Association and the Chest, Heart and Stroke Association. I was at Craigavon Area Hospital a few months ago where the Chest, Heart and Stroke Association was opening a patients' room. I had an opportunity to talk to the consultant and the multidisciplinary team that deal with stroke patients there. I asked the consultant what the number-one issue about stroke that he wanted to be resolved was, and he said, "A 24/7 thrombectomy service". He said that it was like a miracle and that patients left Craigavon Area Hospital in a terrible state but often came back with their functions restored and their outcomes much better. It is so important to recognise that different outcomes are possible with thrombectomy. It is up to us to do it. I was talking to the ever-present Pam Tilson in the Great Hall, who reminded me that we want a stroke action plan, not a stroke aspiration plan, and that we need to get ahead with it because it makes so much sense on every level. The national clinical guidelines for stroke are clear that patients who have access to a thrombectomy centre 24 hours a day, seven days a week, will benefit and have much better outcomes. Minister, a lot has been said here about the cost of a 24/7 thrombectomy service. The figure of £5 million seems to have got into our heads, but I would like you to confirm the cost that, you think, it would be. I was at the Royal Hospital talking to Jennifer Welsh, the new chief executive of the Belfast Trust, and I asked her specifically about the introduction of a 24/7 thrombectomy service. She said that the trust was preparing a business plan for that. As far as I can see, the stroke action plan came about in 2022, yet we are only preparing a business plan in 2026 for a 24/7 service. We would really like to see that plan. It would be such good news. Given the extent of the Health budget, which is over £8 billion, if £5 million saves lives, transforms patient outcomes and, in the long run, saves the health service, it will be a good day if we can confirm that it is in the offing.
Thank you. Yes, I am struck by that point. When I talked to some of the staff on the ward in Craigavon, they made the point that it is dreadful to see patients who could benefit but cannot, because of the lack of access to that life-changing service. Many of the staff work with patients over a long period and get to know them and their family well. It is really important that they can offer the best service available. Minister, we long for good news on this.
559 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: 0.02 (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).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.97).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- Subject area: Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits.
- 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 | 0.02 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.97 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.02 | 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 |
|---|---|
| Disability (including neurodivergence and mental health), disabled people and disability or sickness benefits | 0.89 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.11 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:52 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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