AQW 50140/22-27

Mr Danny Donnelly
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 01/07/2026
Answered On Date: 29/07/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the number of (i) consultant psychiatrists; (ii) psychologists; (iii) mental health nurses; and (iv) other clinical staff, posts involved in adult mental health assessment which are currently vacant, in each Health and Social Care Trust.

Answer:

Information on Health and Social Care (HSC) vacancies actively being recruited by staff group and organisation, including a breakdown of consultant and SAS doctor vacancies by medical specialty, is published by my Department on a quarterly basis. This information includes vacancies in easily identifiable mental health professions, for example mental health nursing, clinical psychology and psychiatry, however there are a vast number of roles involved in the assessment of patients within mental health services. The latest information available, which relates to the position on 31 March 2026, can be found at the link below and includes an interactive dashboard.

https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/articles/staff-vacancies