To ask the Minister of Health to detail (i) the proportion of those living with diabetes in Northern Ireland that are not receiving annual check-ups or tests relating to secondary illnesses such as heart failure, stroke, sight loss and loss of sensation in feet; and (ii) whether staffing levels in this area of care are sufficient.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence TA943, Hybrid closed loop systems for managing blood glucose levels in Type 1 diabetes, has been endorsed as applicable in Northern Ireland. Subsequently, my Department has requested work to be undertaken to understand the implications of this decision. Overall provision; priority groups; system costs; workforce and communication requirements to both enable and support, are being considered. Given the scale of investment needed, financial requirements are also being considered, as funding is required for devices as well as resources to upskill and recruit the workforce needed to offer Hybrid Closed Loop safely, effectively and equitably across the region. Final decision-making and commissioning arrangements for NI will be made, supported by an implementation plan. This will support the integration continuous glucose monitoring technologies into diabetes care and will be communicated to all stakeholders.

Diabetes affects nearly 112,000 people in NI, with the number growing. We do not have the proportion of those living with diabetes in Northern Ireland that are not receiving annual check-ups or tests relating to secondary illnesses. Services have been recovering post covid, with additional investment to reduce waiting lists. Delivery of care is provided by diabetes specialist multidisciplinary teams, with patients in higher risk groups prioritised for review first. However, waiting lists remain long, with limited specialist workforce.

An integrated response is required for an increasing population presenting with multi-morbidities, utilising all existing assets across workforce, infrastructure, technology, finance and Community Voluntary Sector.

Working with key stakeholders, a Regional Integrated Pathway for Diabetes has been defined over the last two years. This Regional Pathway has been developed in line with the Diabetes Strategic Framework (2016). It will standardise access and provide equity across Northern Ireland, through the integration of diabetes services, supporting treatment and care now and in the future.

A Diabetes Programme of Care Workforce Review is near completion, led by the Department of Health Workforce Policy Directorate. This review included diabetes specialist nurses as well as other specialist health care professions directly involved in the delivery of diabetes treatment and care. This 10-year forward view will inform workforce planning needs to ensure equitable access to specialist diabetes professionals across Northern Ireland, in order to provide a safe, effective and quality service for people living with diabetes.

The Diabetes Strategic Framework (2016) included an action to participate in National Diabetes Audit, similar to the Diabetes Audit used in England and Wales.

The Department of Health remains committed to working towards participation in the National Diabetes Audit. However, there have been significant challenges in progressing this recommendation, as the required infrastructure is not currently in place to participate fully in the audit.

With the full implementation of Encompass, currently being rolled out across all Health and Social Care Trusts, the provision of data that is both available and extractable for the region will be available. This will support participation in the National Diabetes Audit in the future.