Every imported question, contribution and motion, with its classification. Unflagged, uncertain and not-yet-analysed records are all included so the analysis can be checked independently.
I thank the Member who proposed the topic for the Adjournment debate. I appreciate that, usually, Adjournment debates are very much constituency-based, but, as health spokesperson for the party, I will say that, regardless of the constituency that you are based in, it is important that you advocate, raise awareness…
I thank the proposer of the Adjournment debate. He has clearly articulated the dire state of the A&E facility in the second city. I also thank the Minister for being here and listening to the facts and figures and the testimonials from the citizens of the city and the wider region. It is a regional hospital that is…
Like many other Members, I commend the work of the chief executive in the trust, the senior management staff and our healthcare workers, who are going way beyond the realms of supporting our most vulnerable people when they are in crisis and where they need support. I commend the work that they are doing, despite the…
I welcome the discussion and thank the Member for bringing it to the House. I welcome the opportunity to put on record our sympathy with the hundreds, if not thousands, of families who feel failed by the situation at Altnagelvin, our solidarity with the super staff who are struggling day and night to see and care for…
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, and I thank the Member who secured the Adjournment debate. I begin by paying tribute to the staff at Altnagelvin, to Neil Guckian, the chief executive, and his team for all the effort and the work that they put in daily to make Altnagelvin the hospital that it is. Over the past years, we…
Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. We have heard much in the media and in our constituency offices about winter pressures. Addressing those pressures requires a coordinated response involving the Department, trusts, community organisations and others to ensure that the emergency services remain effective…
I thank the Member for giving way. I just want to address Mr Carroll's concerns. He might be aware that a new policy is coming forward called Right Care, Right Person, which is a collaboration between the PSNI, the Department of Health and the Department of Justice, and it will address that very concern.
I thank the Member for giving way. She mentioned young males in particular dealing with mental health. Is she as concerned as I am that, given the lack of funding, resources and services here, it is quite often the case that young males in particular are being dealt with by the police when they are locked up, when…
Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I too thank the proposer of the motion, my colleague Órlaithí Flynn. As others said, Órlaithí is passionate about the topic. Her contribution demonstrated her passion so clearly, and she led us to challenge ourselves in how we talk about mental health. Órlaithí and one of…
I thank the Minister for giving way. Minister, how concerned are you about the digital area in which we now exist? The proliferation of social media means that young people have to deal with a whole new set of circumstances online, which has an enormous impact on their mental health and well-being. Should social media…
I appreciate that your Department did not get all the budget that you require. While I respect that the requirement could be between £7 and £9 more per head, it equates to £144 more per head right now, as I highlighted in Committee. Clearly, something is going wrong. We need to look at the way in which we spend our…
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I begin by acknowledging and thanking the mover of the motion. I have known and worked with Órlaithí Flynn for long enough to know of her genuine passion for the area of mental ill health and of her willingness to set aside party politics to get consensus. We will see that at the end of…
I thank the Member for giving way. Does the Member agree that, for all the reasons that he has outlined, it is vital that the Minister stays loyal to his commitment to tackle inequalities in health? It is absolutely one of the biggest issues. The Member for Foyle Mark Durkan referred earlier to the issue of addiction…
I thank the Member for giving way. Will he join me in voicing our appreciation to the community and voluntary sectors throughout each of our constituencies, which have worked tirelessly to support people? If it were not for their work over the past number of years, mental health services in Northern Ireland would have…
I thank the Member who moved the motion. There is no doubt that we, as a society, need to change our attitude towards mental health. Mental ill health is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. If mental health was destigmatised, more people would speak up and more people would realise the struggles that are faced…
I welcome the motion; indeed, I welcome the progress that we have made as a society on tackling the stigma around mental health. To be fair, I recognise the role that some in the Assembly have played in that battle. I very much include the Minister in that, from long before he was the Minister. I have had a huge…
Does the Member agree that it is recognised that students are coming into our third-level institutions with major anxiety issues and mental health challenges and that universities need to be resourced with expertise and funding to help those people navigate their mental health challenges as well as the education…
Thank you, Deputy Speaker. Mr Speaker will be delighted to know that I have just finished my can of Sprite. I am delighted to speak in this important debate. I thank Órlaithí, most importantly, for tabling the motion. I know that the issue matters very much to her and is close to her heart. In Northern Ireland, one in…
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I apologise to you, the Minister and the Assembly for not being in my place to ask my question. I think that it is the first time that that has ever happened.
I assure the Member that I have engaged with the Minister of Health on those issues. We have met the Member's party colleagues about special schools, but I have also engaged with the Minister separately. We have a joint Health and Education oversight group that will assist in how we develop that work. That group is…
I agree wholeheartedly with the Minister's sentiment. What conversations has the Minister had with the Minister of Health about the number of allied health professionals that will be needed in schools not only now but in the future?
I thank the Member for that question. I spoke on the need to make sure that we have the appropriate allied health professions aligned to those impact teams that are being set up. That will require the Department of Health to work with us to make sure that we can provide that support. Again, it is about making sure…
Absolutely, I will do that. It is as a result of the positive relationship that we have developed with the trade unions that the pay and grading review was carried out. That was a significant piece of work requiring tens of millions of pounds to implement, and the Finance Minister worked with me so that we could…