AQW 13723/17-22

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 29/01/2021
Answered On Date: 10/02/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, given recent issues with food availability following the UK's withdrawal from the European Union and consequent arrangements, what changes his Department is making to ensure greater and more effective use of dietetic support to address issues arising from lack of supply of certain products.

Answer:

Dietitians continue to work across the Health and Social Care (HSC) sector and in collaboration with government departments, local councils, community and voluntary groups to address inequalities in health related to food, such as food poverty and access to healthy food alongside their work in the design and delivery of health improvement programmes.

With regard to food supply to the HSC sector, I understand there have been no significant disruptions to food supply, and no outages, since EU Exit. Current contracts allow for flexibility and substitution and suppliers have been asked to hold 4-6 weeks of stocks, in addition to regional stockholding of 4-6 weeks. Trusts stand ready to change menus should that be required, in conjunction with nutritionists and dieticians at local level.