AQW 4695/17-22

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 10/06/2020
Answered On Date: 18/06/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to outline his plans for putting in place comprehensive and expanded rehabilitation services for people who have had COVID-19 that involve Allied Health Professionals, particularly with regard to ensuring that anyone who has had COVID-19 has access to a dietrician and suitable nutrition.

Answer:

I have asked the Chief Medical Officer to set up a working group to consider how the rehabilitation process will be taken forward. In so doing consideration will be given to the important roles all Health and Social Care (HSC) staff including dietitians will have to play in delivering rehabilitation services.

Dietitians have vital roles to play across the HSC in assessing, diagnosing and treating dietary and nutritional problems. Good nutrition will be a vital part of the recovery and rehabilitation process for all patients with Covid-19, many of whom will require individual nutritional support.