AQW 22495/17-22

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 15/09/2021
Answered On Date: 18/10/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health for an update on his review of day centre provision; and why special schools can reopen but day centres using the same Infection Prevention and Control advice are unable to open.

Answer:

The Public Health Agency began a review of Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) guidelines in Health & Social Care (HSC) settings in June 2021. Following the establishment of a multi-agency Task & Finish Group, significant progress has been made to determine clear and standardised ways to fully restore adult day care and short break services. This has been underpinned by risk analysis and direct engagement with carers through the Patient Client Council. The review has entered its final stage and a co-produced framework will be presented to my Department in the coming weeks.

Special Schools are not subject to the IPC guidance for HSC settings and present a different risk profile than day centres, due to the varying age of service users and the higher numbers of staff required to support assessed need.