AQW 10600/22-27

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 22/04/2024
Answered On Date: 09/05/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health what meetings he plans to hold in May 2024 with patients, or families of patients, impacted in the Independent Neurology Inquiry.

Answer:

AQW 8320/22-27 detailed my Department’s response to the Independent Neurology Inquiry (INI) Report and the significant programme of work which has progressed in respect of the INI Implementation Programme.

The INI Action Plan published on 7 March 2024 sets out the detail of the Implementation and Assurance Framework and the engagement process which will sit alongside the INI Action Plan. Stakeholder engagement continues to be a key element of the INI Implementation Programme.

The Independent Neurology Liaison Group was established to increase engagement and to focus on the INI Implementation Programme. This group membership is exclusively drawn from the neurology service users and families, who have been directly affected by the events which led to the recall of patients of Dr Michael Watt and provides the opportunity for those who wish to advise on the INI Implementation Programme assurance process.

The Independent Neurology Liaison Group aligns with the work of the IIPMB Assurance Sub-group to further enhance feedback and recommendations from the lived experience of service user, carer, and families on the assurance process by reviewing and providing feedback on the individual INI Implementation and Assurance Documents.

To date a total of eight Independent Neurology Liaison Group meetings have taken place and a further meeting has been scheduled for 8 May 2024.