AQO 847/22-27

Ms Sian Mulholland
Alliance Party
North Antrim

Tabled Date: 12/09/2024
Answered On Date: 02/10/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health what measures his Department is putting in place to ensure there is a consistent delivery of direct payments for carers across all Health and Social Care Trusts.

Answer:

I would like to acknowledge the crucial role that carers play in our Health and Social Care System. Carers are essential partners in the delivery of care, and their wellbeing is integral to our considerations when assessing support packages.

I want to assure the member that my Department is committed to ensuring that direct payments are delivered as needed for carers across all our Health and Social Care Trusts. It is important to recognise that direct payments are based on individual assessment of need via a Carer’s Assessment or Carer’s Conversation Wheel. This means that while we aim for consistency in respect of process, the outcomes and packages of care and support will necessarily vary according to each carer’s unique circumstances. A standardised set of criteria would therefore reduce flexibility and might not be in the best interests of individual carers.

To address any concerns around disparity, I have asked my officials to provide an overview of the direct payments system to identify areas where improvements might be needed. This will help us to agree on the key areas of focus for future developments, subject of course to resource availability and funding.

Operational responsibility for direct payments lies with individual Health and Social Care Trusts. They are tasked with implementing direct payments in line with the Carers and Direct Payments Act (Northern Ireland) 2002.

I would also like to acknowledge the impact of rising costs on carers, but any increases in funding for direct payments will depend on the overall budget allocation for Health and Social Care. My Department will continue to review the funding position, but it remains subject to wider financial pressures and the prioritisation of services across the system.