AQW 21521/22-27

Mr Danny Donnelly
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 29/01/2025
Answered On Date: 20/02/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health for an update on progression towards delivering a lung health strategy, including any timescales planned by his Department.

Answer:

I have asked my officials to focus their efforts on the current 4 areas of improving services for adult asthma, interstitial lung disease, children’s specialist respiratory care and diagnostics in primary care.

I recognise the need to formalise these work streams into a plan for Northern Ireland, that builds on these priorities and extends into other areas such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), oxygen therapy and others in 2025/26 and beyond. I have asked officials to develop this plan for discussion and presentation by April 2025 and include within that process discussion with the All-Party Group. This plan will be formalised with a reporting structure, lead officials and clinicians, timescales and milestones for transparent monitoring.