AQW 49396/22-27

Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 23/06/2026
Answered On Date: 15/07/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health for an update on recommendations from the review of Routine Enquiry for Health Visitors and Midwifery, within the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy 2024-2031 Action Plan Year 1-3.

Answer:

The recommendations from the review of Routine Enquiry for Health Visitors and Midwifery have been implemented, with one recommendation not taken forward following consideration by the PHA regional steering group.

‘Routine Enquiry into Domestic Abuse: Guidance for Midwives, Health Visitors, School Nurses and Family Nurses in Northern Ireland’ has been developed to assist midwives, health visitors, school nurses and family nurses to identify and respond to incidents of domestic abuse. I launched this guidance, along with the Minister of Justice, on 3 March 2026.

Awareness raising sessions were delivered to relevant staff throughout March 2026 and existing Clinical Education Centre training programmes were revised and commenced delivery from April 2026. Domestic abuse training is mandatory in HSC Trusts.

The guidance will support the implementation of routine and selective enquiry across additional HSC groups, with further development being subject to available funding.

It was recommended that the self-referral process for maternity should include a question enabling women to indicate a wish to discuss domestic abuse, however the PHA regional steering group decided not to progress this due to a potential delay in recognition of immediate assessment and response to support women experiencing domestic abuse. The PHA have included relevant information in their resources as suggested.