AQW 42607/22-27
Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast
Tabled Date: 16/03/2026
Answered On Date: 26/05/2026
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Health for an update on the workforce sustainability of the psychiatry workforce.
Answer:
Recent evidence indicates that the psychiatry workforce in Northern Ireland continues to face significant and growing sustainability challenges. The latest Royal College of Psychiatrists workforce census, reflecting data gathered across all five Health and Social Care Trusts in 2025; shows that 29% of consultant psychiatry posts are either vacant or filled on a locum basis. This represents an increase from 25% in 2023. This means that more than a quarter of consultant roles are not staffed by permanent clinicians. Pressure is also evident within the Specialty and Specialist (SAS) psychiatrist cohort. Of the 79 SAS posts recorded in March 2025, only 52 were filled by permanent staff, leaving 34% of posts either vacant or temporarily covered, again reflecting an increase from around 29% in 2023. These workforce pressures are occurring at a time of increasing demand for mental health services, with the Royal College noting that Northern Ireland continues to experience historical underfunding relative to other UK regions, despite having a greater level of need. The absence of routinely published regional mental health waiting list data also contributes to limited clarity on the full scale of unmet need. The Psychiatry Workforce Task and Finish Group, which was established in April 2025, includes representatives from the Department, HSC Trusts, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency The Group has identified a range of actions that could, at low or no additional cost, to potentially help alleviate the pressures within the psychiatry workforce. The actions include, for example: Analysis of sick absence rates and locum use; Assessment of the impact of existing and emerging workforce challenges Assessment of the impact of reinstating Mental Health Officer status; and Assessing scope to increase international recruitment across Trusts, including how best to promote Northern Ireland as a region to work. Progress against actions is being monitored on an ongoing basis. In parallel, the Department is holding an in-person workshop with members of the psychiatry workforce on 26 March 2026 to gather their perspectives on current pressures and explore potential solutions. The outputs from this engagement will inform the ongoing work of the Task and Finish group, including how existing actions might be refined. To address these challenges, the Department of Health has continued to prioritise workforce actions within the Mental Health Strategy Delivery Plan 2024/25. Progress to date includes: •Publication of an independent mental health workforce review, with implementation planning for its key recommendations underway. •Continued steps to address workforce challenges, including support for Early Intervention and Prevention initiatives and development of the Regional Mental Health Service. •Establishment of community perinatal mental health teams across all Trusts, and additional investment of over £2 million in CAMHS to alleviate service pressures. The Department acknowledges the ongoing workforce pressures and is committed to advancing actions that will support long term sustainability. However, progress continues to be influenced by the financial constraints facing the health system, with the 10 year Mental Health Strategy requiring funding levels not currently available. Overall, the evidence shows that psychiatry workforce sustainability remains a serious challenge, with vacancy levels rising and demand growing across mental health services. The Department continues to work with key partners, including the Public Health Agency, Health and Social Care Trusts, and the Mental Health Champion, to progress both short term mitigations and long term workforce reforms.
|