To ask the Minister of Health (i) for an update on his plans to implement the recommendations of the Bengoa report; and (ii) for his assessment of how implementing these recommendations would impact on the efficiency and delivery of the health service.

Health and Wellbeing 2026: Delivering Together sets out my Department’s response to the recommendations included in the Bengoa Report. Delivering Together sets out to stabilise, reconfigure and to transform Health and Social Care services.

(i) Since the launch of Delivering Together in October 2016, three reports on the progress of the ring-fenced transformation funding projects have been published in 2017, 2019 and 2021. These reports are available at: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/articles/progressreportintroduction

(ii) The evidence contained within these three progress reports, particularly the most recent report, confirms that this programme of activity continues to be successful in stabilising, reconfiguring and improving our health and social care services.

I have also published strategies for mental health, elective care and cancer services and have launched a consultation on urgent and emergency care. Together, with Health and Wellbeing 2026, these strategies articulate a clear trajectory to stabilise, reconfigure and improve our Health and Social Care Services. I have however made it clear that delivering this agenda will require sustained recurrent funding and support for change.