AQW 38338/22-27
Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast
Tabled Date: 15/01/2026
Answered On Date: 12/02/2026
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail how many respite beds that were scheduled for patients, were cancelled in the last financial year, broken down by Health and Social Care Trust.
Answer:
Belfast Trust CAMHS do not have respite bed provision within the current service model. From April 2025 to present, two overnight short breaks had to be cancelled. These were in relation to two separate children open to Belfast Trust. NHSCT 15 short breaks have been cancelled in total since short breaks reopened in August 2025. A further 12 children had their short breaks changed in September and were provided with day care instead. SEHSCT The South Eastern Trust can provide this information from June 2025 as prior to this date the Greenhill provision was unable to fully operate given workforce deficits. From June 2025 there have been 4 respite bed nights cancelled, and all cancellations were based on assessed risk to other children. Where it was possible, attempts were made to offer alternative nights to families who were affected. SHSCT From the 1st April 2025 until 28 January 2026, the Southern Trust Children with Disabilities service provided overnight short breaks provision via 2 Short Breaks Residential facilities and short break foster care. During this period both facilities cancelled a very small number of overnights (as a consequence of unforeseen circumstances). During the period, from a total of approximately 1,600 overnight short breaks provided, 33 overnight episodes of cancellation occurred. This impacted on 21 individual children and the Trust has endeavoured to rescheduled any cancelled nights. WHSCT The Trust have interpreted ‘last financial year’ as the period 1st April 2025 to date. The WHSCT are commissioned for 4 respite beds in Rosebud Cottage, Londonderry. These beds were available 6 days per week from 1st April 2025 – 26th May 2025. However, this service was paused on 27th May 2025 due to an emergency placement of a child with complex needs. Due to the high level of assessed risk associated with this placement, no other young people could be accommodated for short breaks. Two additional emergency admissions have been facilitated in Rosebud Cottage since 20th January 2026. The MDT are working intensively with the family to ensure supports are in place to allow these young people to return to the family home as soon as possible. The Trust is also commissioned for the provision of 8 respite beds in Avalon House, Omagh. This service continues to remain paused due to the ongoing medium/long term placements of a number of young people.
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