To ask the Minister of Health (i) whether his Department intends to publish a long term strategy in relation to the future configuration of regional acute hospital services, including Causeway Hospital and South West Acute Hospital; and (ii) to detail any consideration that has been given within that work to equitable access to emergency care for rural and geographically-isolated communities.

My Department has consulted on proposals for a Hospital Network in Northern Ireland. At its heart, this work is about how we can improve sustainability of hospital services and ultimately provide an assurance that none of our acute hospitals will close. I have been clear that every hospital is needed and Causeway Hospital and the South-West Acute Hospital will continue to have a crucial role in providing appropriate care to our population. We must also recognise that the health needs of our population are constantly evolving. We therefore also need a dynamic approach to maintaining our health and social care services.

Specific changes to hospital services, either have been, or will be, the subject of a separate consultation process led by the individual HSC Trust or by my Department through its programme of regional service reviews. In considering the future model for services, Trusts are required to follow the Guidance on the Change and Withdrawal of Services. This includes appropriate engagement and assessment of impact as part of any proposals for service change. No service change decision can be taken outside of this established governance and assurance processes.

Some proposals to change or withdraw a service will be determined to be major and/or controversial. In such instances approval by my Department is required.

A Rural Needs Impact Assessment screening was consulted on in draft as part of the consultation on proposals for a Hospital Network and was further amended with mitigations to reflect the feedback received.

The findings of the Hospital Network consultation along with my Department’s response including the revised Equality and Rural Needs impact assessment screenings are to be published shortly.