AQW 47437/22-27

Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast

Tabled Date: 29/05/2026
Answered On Date: 19/06/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health for an update on the Maternity and Neonatal Partnership.

Answer:

Significant progress is now being made in establishing the Maternal and Newborn Partnership, following earlier delays relating to the funding constraints.

Key developments include:

Leadership and Programme Capacity: a commissioning manager and project manager are now in post, providing dedicated leadership and programme management capacity to drive forward the establishment of the Partnership;

Governance Structures: draft terms of reference for both the Partnership Steering Group and Advisory Forum have been developed, with final approval expected imminently. These structures will underpin effective governance and stakeholder engagement;

Clinical and Professional Leadership: job descriptions for key clinical and professional leadership roles have been completed and are currently awaiting final approval prior to advertisement. These roles will be critical in providing strategic and clinical direction;

Stakeholder Engagement and Membership: The Partnership will shortly begin seeking nominations for membership across all relevant groups and workstreams, ensuring broad representation and inclusive participation from across the system;

Regional Clinical Advisory Group: plans are in place to establish a Regional Clinical Advisory Group, with a focus on standardising patient pathways at a regional level where appropriate, supporting consistency in care and outcomes;

Alignment of Existing Structures: there are currently a number of established regional maternity and neonatal groups. An early priority for the Partnership will be to review the role, function, and membership of these groups to determine how they may align with, or transition into, the new Partnership structure. This work will aim to reduce duplication, while ensuring that essential operational roles and responsibilities are maintained within the new configuration; and,

Workplan Development: a prioritised workplan is in development to support structured and meaningful stakeholder engagement. This will incorporate existing action plans and ensure the continued involvement of established stakeholder groups.