AQW 18454/22-27

Ms Sian Mulholland
Alliance Party
North Antrim

Tabled Date: 19/11/2024
Answered On Date: 04/12/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the timeline for improving access to advanced diabetes technology such as insulin pumps and hybrid closed loop systems for people living with type 1 diabetes.

Answer:

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence TA943, Hybrid closed loop systems for managing blood glucose levels in Type 1 diabetes, has been endorsed as applicable in Northern Ireland. Subsequently, my Department has requested work to be undertaken to understand the implications of this decision. Overall provision; priority groups; system costs; workforce and communication requirements to both enable and support, are being considered. Given the scale of investment needed, financial requirements are also being considered, as funding is required for devices as well as resources to upskill and recruit the workforce needed to offer Hybrid Closed Loop safely, effectively and equitably across the region. Final decision-making and commissioning arrangements for NI will be made, supported by an implementation plan. This will support the integration continuous glucose monitoring technologies into diabetes care and will be communicated to all stakeholders.