AQW 48252/22-27

Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 09/06/2026
Answered On Date: 23/06/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any engagement his Department has undertaken with (i) Health and Social Care Trusts; (ii) universities; and (iii) professional bodies, in relation to the capacity of practice education provision for allied health profession students, in the last five years.

Answer:

Updated recommendations on practice education provision for allied health professions have been developed through a subgroup of Advisory Committee for Allied Health Professions which has representation from all the Health and Social Care Trusts, the Ulster University and other key stakeholders.

Those recommendations are being considered in light of current resourcing pressures.

As part of the undergraduate training commissioning process, my Department currently allocates £70 per week per student to support Trusts to provide practice education opportunities for students training in the allied health professions.