To ask the Minister of Health whether any formal assessment has been undertaken regarding the impact that longer travel times to emergency surgery services may have on patient outcomes in rural areas.

Patient safety and delivery of sustainable services is my Department’s priority and was at the forefront of the Review of General Surgery. The Review provided standards for Emergency General Surgery (EGS) which represent best clinical practice, are based on available evidence, and must be in place in hospitals receiving EGS patients to ensure safe outcomes for patients through the delivery of high quality, sustainable and equitable care.

A rural impact assessment was conducted as part of the Review of General Surgery and can be found here https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/doh-rna-review-general-surgery.pdf

Trust specific proposals on the configuration of emergency general surgical services must be taken in line with the Change & Withdrawal of Services Guidance and include the necessary impact assessments including consideration of rural needs.