To ask the Minister of Health to detail the (i) number of people living with a neuro-disability, broken down by constituency; (ii) support that exists for sufferers; and (iii) recent scientific, medical and therapeutic advances that have been made in treatment and diagnosis.

My Department does not hold figures on the number of people living with a neuro-disability in Northern Ireland, however, the average number of annual admissions and individuals admitted to neurology and neurosurgery specialties in Northern Ireland by Assembly constituency (2018-19 to 2020-21) is provided below. Figures relate to the average number of admissions or number of individuals for the last 3 years of complete data (2018-19 to 2020-21). Data has been rounded to the nearest whole person/ admission:

Neuro-disabilities are a very wide ranging group of congenital or acquired long term conditions, including brain injury and autism. The Regional Specialist Acquired Brain Injury In-patient Unit (RABIU) at Musgrave Park Hospital serves the whole of NI. Staff within RABIU link with the Multi-disciplinary Brain Injury Teams within each of the five HSC Trusts, and these teams provide rehabilitation and support following a period of in-patient treatment. My Department also has two regional contracts, one to provide vocational training and support to people with an acquired brain injury and the other is to provide recreational support to people and their carers.

My Department has established formal links with NICE whereby guidance published by NICE is locally reviewed for applicability to NI and, where appropriate, endorsed by the Department for implementation in Health and Social Care. This link has ensured that NI has access to up-to-date, independent, professional, evidence-based guidance on the value of health care interventions. My Department has also recently contributed to the call for evidence for the development of an Acquired Brain Injury Cross-Government Strategy lead by Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) England. In addition, the development of an Autism Strategy for Northern Ireland for the period 2023-2028 is also currently underway.