AQW 12586/22-27

Mr Danny Donnelly
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 28/05/2024
Answered On Date: 24/06/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health for an update on the work of the task and finish group currently reviewing the audiology service model.

Answer:

SPPG has established Audiology Task and Finish Groups for both Paediatrics and Adults, to work with Trusts across the HSC to get a better understanding of the population’s audiology needs in Northern Ireland. This task group is currently considering referrals into the audiology service and the current workforce availability.

The Adult Audiology Task and Finish Group has met on two occasions from its establishment in February 2024 and it is planned that the review should be available by September 2024.

A separate Paediatric Audiology Task and Finish Group has also been established, and several meetings have also taken place with this group. The next meeting of the Paediatric Audiology Task and Finish Group is on 19 June 2024. At this meeting the group will consider the outputs from the work on demand and capacity analysis for children.

Moving forward is it planned that the two groups will amalgamate for the development of regional pathways and protocols.