AQW 12755/22-27

Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast

Tabled Date: 30/05/2024
Answered On Date: 06/06/2024
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health what diagnosis and treatment pathways are available for children suffering from the conditions PANS/PANDAS.

Answer:

I would first of all say that I recognise that this condition causes distress and concern for children and their families. Although rare there has been increasing occurrences of presentations of Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated (PANDA) to paediatric services and Paediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS).

Where a presentation occurs, the child will normally be seen at their local District General Hospital by a paediatrician who will assess the symptoms as there are usually a number of symptoms related to this.

The paediatrician will review each presentation and based on this may request additional support from the regional neurological service in BHSCT or from their local CAMHS service, amongst others in order to put in place a treatment plan.

Treatment options will vary dependent on the clinical presentation and paediatricians would welcome more information to treat patients more effectively. Plans are in place regionally to create a clinically led network that allows to clinicians share best practice and gain more understanding of new and emerging issues. It is hoped that conditions such as PANS/PANDA will be included in this.

It must be noted, as there are also potentially neuropsychiatric implications with this disorder, there will be a need to engage with CAMHS colleagues in Trusts as they have a crucial role to play in care and treatment of children with this condition.

We must recognise that there are significant demands on CAMHS services as well as other paediatric services across the HSC, which are impacting on increased waiting times and the SPPG are working with Trusts to identify improvements.