To ask the Minister of Health how his Department is ensuring that respite services are equitably distributed across Northern Ireland, including in rural areas.

Health and Social Care Trusts (HSCTs) are responsible for the provision of health and social care services in accordance with population and individual assessed need. HSCTs endeavour to ensure that respite/short breaks services are equally distributed across Northern Ireland, including across rural and urban areas.

HSCTs advise that a person-centred approach is undertaken in the provision and commissioning of respite/short break care. At an individual level, an assessment of need is completed with service users and their carers. Respite/short break options are then reviewed, agreed in partnership with service users, carers and Trust keyworker/s. An assessment of need will include consideration of factors such as geographical location and appropriate environment.

HSCTs utilise both statutory and independent sector providers to provide respite/short breaks. However, to ensure that respite/ short break services are not limited to the location of available beds within buildings-based facilities, respite/short breaks can also be provided through domiciliary care support within people’s own homes and also through fostering services for children.

Direct Payments are also available to facilitate respite/short breaks for adults within their own local community, this helps support service provision across both urban and rural areas.

Shared Lives is also an option for older people and for people with a learning disability. Shared Lives provides community-based care in a Shared Lives Carers home.

My Department remains committed to working with HSCTs and other agencies to facilitate appropriate respite/short breaks for individuals, delivering support for individuals, families and carers in accordance with assessed need across all areas of Northern Ireland.