To ask the Minister of Health to detail (i) any engagement his Department has had with the Department for Infrastructure to develop a regional strategy for non-emergency patient transport; and (ii) whether community transport operators will be included in future hospital discharge planning.

I met with the Minister for Infrastructure and the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs on 9 September 2024 to discuss the Cross-Departmental Working Group on Community Transport. As part of this work, I have asked officials from my Department to undertake a review of the existing non-emergency transport policy for Health and Social Care Services in Northern Ireland, with the aim of completing this work in the 2025/26 financial year.

It is important to note that the provision of transport services for the discharge of patients is a matter for individual Health and Social Care Trusts, where there is a defined medical or financial need. Under the existing non-emergency transport policy, Trusts have access to a wide range of transport options, including the use of community transport services, as appropriate.