AQO 112/22-27

Mr Peter McReynolds
Alliance Party
East Belfast

Tabled Date: 22/02/2024
Answered On Date: 04/03/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health for an update on the Review of Neurology Services.

Answer:

The Review of Neurology services is progressing well and I expect a draft report to be finalised in the coming months. The review has been taken forward by a clinically-led Neurology Review Team. The Review Team has undertaken analysis in key areas of the service including user experience. This analysis, which includes a gap and constraints assessment, detailed data analyses and benchmarking against services elsewhere, is now complete.

The Review Team has also considered how best to address pressures within the Neurology workforce. This has been across both specialist consultant and Nursing staff as well as the Allied Health Professional and Psychology workforces.

Over the next number of months my Officials will be engaging with stakeholders to inform the final report of the Review. This will include patients, carers, charities and wider expert bodies including the Association of British Neurologists and the Getting It Right First Time Neurology Team.

The Neurology Review Team will meet in April to review feedback and amendments to the report. Subject to that discussion, it is intended that the final report will be completed later in the spring.