AQW 22701/22-27

Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 17/02/2025
Answered On Date: 04/03/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any action he is taking to reduce occupational therapist assessment waiting times for (i) adults; and (ii) children in the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust.

Answer:

The Public Health Agency (PHA) continues to work with the Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG) and Trusts to ensure Allied Health Profession (AHP) services including Occupational Therapy deliver a range of support that reflects the needs of the population of Northern Ireland, and is aligned to evidence based practice.

Strategies that are currently being used by South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust to help reduce waiting times are:

waiting list validation

monitoring capacity and demand of complex cases

proactive recruitment

utilising bank and agency staff to cover long term vacancies or absences as appropriate

reviewing new ways of working and assuring appropriate skill mix to maximise efficiency.