AQW 51132/22-27

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 07/09/2026
Answered On Date: 27/09/2026
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health for an update on the status of the implementation of the prescribing of fampridine in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, including the timescale for providing funding to the Trust for this.

Answer:

Fampridine (Fampyra) has been available for prescribing across all HSC Trusts, including the Belfast HSC Trust, on a cost-per-case basis since May 2023 for patients who meet the relevant clinical criteria.

To support wider and more consistent access to the treatment, the Belfast HSC Trust was asked to develop a regional business case for the additional staffing required to deliver the service across Northern Ireland. The business case was received by my department in November 2025 and is currently being progressed with HSC Trusts.

It is not currently possible to provide a definitive timescale for funding approval. However, my Department is working with clinical teams and Trusts to progress the business case and secure the additional staffing required as soon as possible. In the meantime, clinically eligible patients can continue to access fampridine through existing interim commissioning arrangements.