To ask the Minister of Health (i) for an update on his Department’s review of the delegation of healthcare tasks in relation to care provision; (ii) when he expects the review to be completed; and (iii) whether his Department has engaged with family members who will be directly affected by any proposed changes.

My Department is actively reviewing the delegation of healthcare interventions. The initial focus is on the delegation of healthcare interventions under direct payments within Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts, the delegation of healthcare to social care practitioners employed by HSC Trusts and third-party providers, and the delegation of healthcare for school children with complex medical needs.

The Chief Nursing Officer commissioned the Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nursing and Midwifery (NIPEC) to lead this important work, with the aim of supporting individuals to live as independently as possible. NIPEC will establish the practices currently in operation and identify viable pathways that will facilitate the safe and effective delegation of healthcare in line with the governing guidelines and legislation. The review is anticipated to be completed by Autumn 2025.

My Department is committed to engaging fully with all stakeholders throughout this process, including service users, family members, carers, and health and social care professionals. To date, we have held meetings with key stakeholders, people with lived experience, and advocacy groups, including the Centre for Independent Living in NI. We are also engaging with the Patient Client Council to allow them to fulfil their statutory function of independently representing the interests of the Public in Health and Social Care.

In September 2024, Improving Adult Care Together (IMPACT) commenced collaborative work with the Centre for Independent Living in NI, following their identification of service user concerns regarding the safe and effective delegation of complex health and care interventions for children and adults during transitions. NIPEC is working in partnership with IMPACT, maintaining a strong focus on the lived experiences of people drawing on care and support, carers, and the practice knowledge of social care staff in the development of a new model.