To ask the Minister of Health to detail (i) the number of children who have been hospitalised with conditions other than Covid-19 in each of the last five years; (ii) the illnesses that have seen rises in frequency throughout that time; and (iii) the steps that are being taken to reduce the appearance and transmission of these illnesses.

The number of children and young people aged under 17 who were admitted to hospital for reasons other than COVID are listed below. Figures for 23/24 will be available in October 2024.

NB: During 2020/21 and 2021/22 admissions numbers were down due to COVID infection control measures such as lockdown and school closures. This reduced the spread of COVID and also reduced the spread of other ‘normal’ winter viruses.

The main reasons for emergency admissions into hospitals for children is as a result of infections such as RSV, acute bronchiolitis, upper and lower respiratory infections including asthma exacerbation and wheezing, trauma, intestinal infections, fever, jaundice and laryngitis and for investigation for conditions such as nausea and vomiting, gastrointestinal and abdominal pain. Children with complex / or congenital conditions with multiple co-morbidities will also be admitted to manage their care at times. With the busiest periods of year over winter periods when the system sees higher numbers of admissions due to winter respiratory viruses, in particular admissions due to RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) with admission numbers varying on a year-by-year basis. There has also been a small increase in admissions for the communicable diseases of measles and pertussis which directly relates to a reduction in vaccine uptake.

Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent many infectious diseases. However, over recent years there has been a reduction in the uptake of childhood vaccinations, and this is now resulting in increases in incidence in communicable diseases, such as measles and pertussis. The PHA continues to lead on campaigns to ascertain reasons behind the lower numbers of vaccination uptake and develop means to increase vaccination rates.

Each year the service puts plans in place to manage the increase in admissions as a result of RSV and a regional RSV synagis vaccination campaign is carried out to protect the most vulnerable children. The PHA leads on a wide-ranging childhood vaccination programme that includes crucial partnership working with primary care and HSC Trusts. This programme covers a wide range of communicable diseases and is an extremely important measure in keeping children well. This programme is regionally agreed, based upon advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) – an independent expert advisory committee that advises United Kingdom health departments on immunisation, making recommendations concerning vaccination schedules and vaccine safety.

The programme includes immunisations to protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, haemophilus influenzae type b, (Hib) hepatitis B, rotavirus, meningococcal group B, meningococcal groups ACWY pneumococcal disease, measles, mumps, rubella, conditions caused by human papillomavirus (including cervical cancer and cancers of the mouth, throat, anus and genitals and genital warts), and the flu for a number of age bands.

Further vaccinations may also be offered based upon clinical discretion to some “at risk” children.

I can assure you that my Department and colleagues in primary care, PHA and HSC Trusts will continue to work closely together in order to ensure that if possible, admissions to hospital for children are kept as low as possible and when admitted that the child receives optimal care in the shortest time possible in order to ensure they can be discharged as quickly as possible.