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.
Thank you, Minister. I am glad to hear you say that the role played by social workers is "complex and challenging". From what I hear from those who have contacted me, social workers are stretched to capacity. What is the Department doing to address that? Will you take the opportunity to refute your party leader's…
The role played by social workers in delivering safeguarding and family support interventions is complex and challenging. The work frequently pivots on multidisciplinary collaboration, with parents and carers positioned as partners in the formulation and delivery of safeguarding and support plans. Their work ensures…
I thank the Member. We provide a range of services. Long waiting times were one of the prominent themes raised during the consultation on the emotional health and well-being framework. It takes action to address that. A key change is the move away from multiple single diagnostic pathways, which often create delays,…
That is one of the intents of the Committee in Common. As the Member will know, the trusts were, in effect, set up under a sort of Thatcherite model of competition driving down price. That does not work for me. If I could start with a blank page or click my fingers, we would not have five geographically based trusts.…
I have submitted quite a number of questions for written answer on autism services, and the answers, sometimes on the same day from the Department, contradict themselves. The Minister often refers to the emotional health and well-being framework as the idea that will frame all of the uniform services. Will we ever get…
I absolutely share the Member's ambition to see people living in the community. The trusts provide a range of evidence-informed programmes for individuals who are awaiting assessment. For children and young people, early intervention teams deliver proactive needs-led programmes that are neurodiversity-affirming and…
I concur with the Minister that patient safety is ultimately the top priority, but patient safety is also important, as the Member said, in terms of assessments. If you cannot get assessments, your safety is compromised. Following on from the issue of assessment, Minister, what progress has been made in improving…
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…
I thank the Minister for his response. We have over 17,000 children and over 4,000 adults on the waiting list. They are waiting for up to six years for an assessment. Minister, in the delivery plan, there are no measurable targets to reduce those waiting times. Can you look at that to commit to recognising the…
I fully recognise the impact of the current delays on individuals and families. The situation has arisen due to a combination of factors, including funding that falls short of objectively assessed need and previously missed opportunities to reform health and social care delivery. I am committed to addressing this, and…
I am unaware of the individual case, and I am unaware that that is something that occurs in Health and Social Care (HSC) delivery, so I will take it away.
Speaking of the future and a vision for the Western Trust, I sat, over the weekend, with a loved one who was severely suicidal. Once they reached triage, they were informed that, because they do not currently live in the Western Trust area, they would not be able to access support or be admitted. Upon that happening,…
The hospital reconfiguration consultation produced a significant number of responses, some of which were basically from a cut-and-paste template. That led me to have a discussion with the permanent secretary about what would be a novel way forward in Northern Ireland. That plan is being progressed. Unfortunately, it…
Will the Minister give an update on the hospital reconfiguration plan, to which the Member who asked the substantive question referred? When will that plan be produced?
Recent investment has been made via the elective care framework, with seven additional sessions having been funded over a 42-week year as part of the first phase of endoscopy expansion. The bulk of that capacity is being delivered on the SWAH site and includes the provision of an additional consultant post based at…
Minister, thank you for your comments on the passing of Tom Frawley, which were befitting of a man of his stature. I, too, send my sympathy to his family. Minister, I welcome the progress that is being made on the business plan, albeit the pace is frustrating, and share with fellow elected reps for Fermanagh and South…
I am struck by the Member's remarks and give her my assurance that, when I leave the Chamber, I will instruct officials to ask the Western Health and Social Care Trust for a written report detailing — in detail — the pre-engagement, including who they have spoken to and which organisations those people represent. If…
Minister, I am really shocked at that response, because I am not aware of any Western Trust engagement on the vision plan. My question was going to be, "Will you outline how you will ensure that the public are aware of this planning, so that they can engage with it?". I do not know whether you can intervene with the…
Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Western Trust has assured me that it has undertaken a comprehensive early engagement exercise with stakeholders, involving all political parties, local businesses, service users, community groups, the Patient and Client Council (PCC), local media, community planning partners and Departments,…
It also stated that staff say that no significant changes have been made to improve the system. How can the public have confidence on this? We are another year down the line. What is the vision?
I thank the Minister for his comments about the Western Trust's chair. I, too, pass on my sympathies to his family. Minister, we had the pause to the emergency general surgery consultation process last July. You asked the trust to provide a vision plan. I am quite surprised by your answer, because I, as an elected…
I spoke during Members' statements earlier about the untimely passing of the Western Trust's chair, Dr Tom Frawley CBE. I repeat my condolences to his family, his friends and his many admirers. The Western Trust's vision for Fermanagh and west Tyrone is intended to provide a long-term framework for the delivery of…