AQW 49494/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 24/06/2026
Answered On Date: 28/07/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail (i) any timetable for implementation of the recommendations contained within the Muckamore Abbey Hospital Public Inquiry report; (ii) any arrangements that will be put in place to monitor progress; and (iii) how implementation outcomes will be reported to the Assembly and the public.

Answer:

I have welcomed the publication of the Inquiry’s report, which I believe must be a watershed moment for the treatment and care of the most vulnerable in our society.

Work on ensuring the lessons from the Inquiry are being applied has already begun. As an important first step I convened a Quality and Safety summit on 30 June 2026 which brought together Health and Social Care (HSC) system leaders, including Trust Chief Executives, Chairpersons and Chairs of the newly established Patient Safety and Quality Committees. This provided an opportunity to lay out my vision on the responsibilities and critical role that HSC organisations, particularly Trusts, hold in strengthening patient safety, culture, governance and accountability.

I have noted Recommendation 2 within the Report which provides a six-month timescale for my Department’s response. My Department is committed to move swiftly to respond to the Recommendations within this timeframe, and I expect a response to be made before that time.

With regards to all the other recommendations, work has begun on some of these and this will continue at pace. As some recommendations have financial implications, they will need detailed consideration from my Department on how to move forward. My officials will also progress work to identify interfaces or alignment between the Inquiry’s recommendations and other work that is already being progressed by my Department. A small number of recommendations are also outside my remit, and I will engage with relevant Ministerial colleagues in respect of these.

Once this process has been completed and ownership of the recommendations has been agreed, the work required (or already underway) will be progressed to address the recommendations, including those relating to safeguarding, governance and oversight arrangements.

Progress will be monitored through an assurance framework which will provide reports to the Inquiries Implementation Programme Management Board (IIPMB), chaired by my Permanent Secretary. The IIPMB provides strategic oversight and accountability across all responses to healthcare inquiries and reports and ensures alignment and accountability across the Department and the wider HSC for the delivery of Inquiry recommendations.

Updates on progress as the Department and the wider HSC work through the report will be provided to the Assembly and the wider public. However, the process for this is currently being considered.