AQW 21686/17-22

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 08/07/2021
Answered On Date: 23/07/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to outline the progress on the immediate actions in the Elective Care Framework listed for completion by summer 2021.

Answer:

The new limited administrative version of the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive for the Republic of Ireland opened on 01 July. Full details and guidance are available on the Health and Social Care Board website at http://www.hscboard.hscni.net/travelfortreatment/

I published the Cancer Recovery Plan on 24 June 2021 setting out key actions to stabilise and reform cancer services over the next three years. Details are available from Cancer Recovery Plan 2021/22 – 23/24 | Department of Health (health-ni.gov.uk)

My officials are working to develop options, building on the existing flexibilities in bank and on-call arrangements, to introduce temporary, enhanced rates for targeted shifts and priority activities.

Belfast Trust is currently completing refurbishment work within the Duke of Connaught Unit at the Musgrave Park Hospital site which will provide a daycase surgery theatre for orthopaedics admissions. The refurbishment work is expected to be completed by the end of the summer.

The recovery plan by the Northern Ireland Orthopaedic Network setting out priority actions and timescales to bring orthopaedic activity back to commissioned levels, and to increase activity as rapidly as possible is expected to be delivered by the end of August 2021.

Plans to develop a new Waiting List Management Unit in the HSCB are underway with recruitment/staffing commencing shortly.