AQW 29687/22-27

Mrs Michelle Guy
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley

Tabled Date: 01/07/2025
Answered On Date: 07/07/2025
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health (i) whether the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust has a repatriation policy for the proposed move of patients to other Health and Social Care Trusts; and (ii) whether the policy includes a clear process for the proposed move of sick babies and children.

Answer:

(i) While the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust does not explicitly have a publicly available "repatriation policy" document, a HSC wide protocol for the movement of patients to other Health and Social Care Trusts is in place. Transfers are typically handled based on the individual needs of the patient and the capacity and services available in the receiving trust.

(ii) There is a distinct section within the protocol for the repatriation of paediatric transfers. This includes hospital to hospital repatriation as well as hospital to community repatriation. Clinicians and service managers in the various Trusts work closely together to ensure that children and babies get the right care in the right place in a timely manner.