To ask the Minister of Health (i) whether he is aware of any cases where terminally ill patients have experienced delays in receiving essential palliative care equipment following discharge from hospital; (ii) to detail the average waiting time for the provision of such equipment, in each Health and Social Care Trust; and (iii) whether he intends to introduce maximum response times for palliative patients requiring urgent equipment to remain safely at home.

Responses to this question were requested from each of the five Health and Social Care Trusts.

Data relating to delays for patients with palliative care needs receiving equipment after discharge is not routinely recorded or identifiable within Trust data systems.

However, all HSC Trusts reported that patients identified as having palliative and end-of-life needs are prioritised for equipment provision and are generally fast-tracked or referred as urgent based on clinical need.

With regards to waiting times for the provision of equipment, the average can vary between Trusts depending on local arrangements, availability and manufacturers delivery times.

The Western Trust advised they do not operate waiting lists for equipment, while the South Eastern Trust aims to provide urgent nursing equipment within one working day. The Southern Trust prioritises urgent requests with a target completion time of 1 to 3 days.

The Belfast Trust outlined a range of safeguards to ensure end-of-life patients are treated urgently, including provision of physiotherapy equipment before discharge where required and immediate provision of enteral feeding equipment.

Overall, while quantitative data on delays for the provision of equipment for palliative care patients is not available, the Trusts consistently reported that palliative and end-of-life patients are prioritised for equipment provision, with processes in place to expedite urgent requests, minimise delays and provide equipment to people with identified palliative and end of life care needs at the earliest opportunity.