Philip McGuigan
North Antrim · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“I concur with the Minister that patient safety is ultimately the top priority, but patient safety is also important, as the Member said, in terms of assessments. If you cannot get assessments, your safety is compromised.”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Further to my party colleague's point of order about the DUP's internal investigation, what is the point of doing an investigation if you are telling us that you have nothing to answer for? You were the leader of the DUP at a time when accusations were levelled against Jeffrey Donaldson.”
“Minister, in your previous answers you talked about the pressures and the difficulties. You said that you were looking for a fair funding model, and you spoke of the need for taxpayers here to be treated equitably.”
“Minister, the inquiry found systematic abuse, neglect and serious governance failure at Muckamore Abbey Hospital over many years — failures that were not isolated incidents but reflected systematic issues across leadership, staffing, safeguarding and oversight that resulted in decades of physical and psychological abuse.”
“When I engage with health service sectors as my party's health spokesperson, there is not one that does not talk about workforce pressures and problems with staff recruitment and retention. That is clearly the case with doctors.”
“First Minister, you have spoken previously about the opportunities created as a result of our unique economic and trading position and about the increased potential that comes with all-island cooperation.”
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“That is why the Committee welcomes the additional transformation funding for the roll-out of multidisciplinary teams in primary care. They have been shown to be transformational in communities, and they deliver better outcomes for patients. However, by having only a partial roll-out, we are creating additional inequalities across our system. That needs to be addressed in the coming period. <BR /> <BR />I will briefly mention the Department's capital allocation. In recent months, the Health Committee has had major concerns about some significant projects, particularly those being taken forward by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.”
“<BR /> <BR />At that briefing, members were advised that, without additional funding, the Department of Health will have to consider making savings of £280·8 million through high- or catastrophic-impact measures. That is at a time when the health system already struggles to meet demand. Waiting times are among the longest in the world, and every organisation that we speak to outlines the difficulty in funding services and programmes. <BR /> <BR />Over the last number of years, there have been many reports on how we need to transform the healthcare system to improve outcomes for patients. Now we need to see decisions being made on transforming our services so that patients and their families achieve better health and social care outcomes.”
“I note that we asked for a detail breakdown of the allocation for 2025-26 but were told that that is unavailable and that decisions are still to be made on the allocation of funding. Indeed, at the last briefing, on 27 March, the Health Committee was told that the Health Department's projected funding requirements for 2025-26 were £8·984 billion, which is almost £600 million more than the Department's allocation of £8·4 billion. Officials advised members that the Department is assuming that there will be additional allocations totalling £190 million during the year through the immigration health surcharge and the funding to cover additional costs for National Insurance contributions. That leaves the funding gap at approximately £400 million.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion and outline the Committee for Health's consideration of the 2025-26 Budget. I thank the Committee for Finance for its work in producing the report. I also thank the members of the Health Committee for their work and the staff of the Committee for providing invaluable information and briefing papers on the Budget process and timings. <BR /> <BR />Even with those briefings and the information from the Finance Committee, the Health Committee was still unable to consider the Health Department's budget in sufficient detail to allow it to come to a position on the Department's allocation for this financial year. That has been frustrating for members.”
“has the Minister come to the conclusion that additional support is needed for domiciliary care teams in the lead-up to the coming winter to ensure timely discharge from hospital?”
“I accept that the workshops are ongoing and have not been completed yet, but the Minister has mentioned domiciliary care.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. He highlighted the fact that others have raised the issue of costs. He rightly points out the global damage to the environment, but, if we look much closer to home, 30 miles down the road, at the gorse fires in County Down and, indeed, in County Antrim, we will see that the cost of not doing the right thing for our environment and our climate will be far more expensive in the long run.”
“I just want to make the point again that the Act was supported not only by the DUP but by the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, who was a DUP Minister.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. While I no longer sit on the AERA Committee, the Member and I were colleagues on it during the lengthy debate on the Climate Change Act. He points out that the Executive Office is legally obliged: will he also consider that the wording of clause 50 of the Climate Change Act came about from an amendment brought to the House by his colleague, the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs at the time, and that his party supported that Bill in its totality? Indeed, at its Final Stage, his colleague, the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, who is now the Speaker of the House, said, in the Chamber:”
“If the Minister had been listening to the debate, he would have heard me and others say that, in the first instance, the scheme should be doubled to what it was — £3·6 million — and then a review could determine what a suitable amount would be. In answer to his question, a number of Members said £3·6 million immediately.”
“An important first step would be to restore funding to the previous amount of £3·6 million. There should also be a review of the programme that would include meaningful co-design of a new multi-year scheme that would allow organisations and charities not only to exist but to grow, innovate and meet the needs of the people in our communities. <BR /> <BR />We must acknowledge that a thriving health and social care system is built not just on hospitals and clinics but on the dedication of volunteers and community groups. Their work strengthens our society, enriches lives and ensures that care reaches those who need it most. It is our duty to support them.”
“Some 259 applications were made, with bids totalling over £13 million. Again, what services could those organisations and charities have provided that would have relieved pressure on our creaking system? <BR /> <BR />The Committee's motion urges the Minister of Health:”
“While the Department is making short-term decisions about funding the sector, it will result in long-term funding pressures further down the track. We will continue to see waiting lists grow; we will continue to see increased pressures on our GP services, emergency departments (EDs), hospital services and domiciliary care services. <BR /> <BR />The Minister has been clear with the Committee and in the media that he wants to see a shift left and to place services out of secondary care into our communities. We welcome that focus. However, the announcement of only £1·8 million for core grant funding in this financial year does not indicate a willingness to move services into the community. It indicates that the status quo will be maintained. From the applications to the fund, we can see that there is a significant demand for the funding.”
“It would be fair to say that, if the community and voluntary sector stopped providing health and social care services in our community, the health system would grind to a halt. I pay tribute to the many organisations and charities and the many thousands of workers and volunteers who make an active contribution to our health system and improve the health and social care outcomes for our communities. We thank you for your service and the care and support that you provide. <BR /> <BR />Today, the Minister will outline the significant financial pressures on the Department and the Executive, and there is no denying that we are in a difficult financial position. However, while the Minister may say that we cannot afford to invest in the community and voluntary sector, the reality is that we must invest in the sector.”
“The organisations cannot continue their invaluable work without proper support. We must ensure that they have sustainable funding, clear policy frameworks and the recognition they deserve within a broader healthcare strategy. I urge the Assembly to champion policies that provide stable financial backing, encourage cross-sector collaboration and reduce the bureaucratic barriers that hinder the vital work of volunteers. <BR /> <BR />I note that, while the scheme does not directly fund service delivery, it provides the funding to put the structures in place that allow organisations and charities to bid for contracts and provide essential services to our communities. What additional services could be provided in our communities if there was additional core grant funding for those community and voluntary sector organisations and charities?”
“The resilience and adaptability of those groups was extraordinary, yet they continue to operate under significant financial and resource constraints. Investment in the community and voluntary sector is not just a moral obligation; it is economically sound. Studies show that every pound invested in voluntary health and care services generates significant social and financial returns by reducing the pressures on hospitals, GP surgeries and emergency services. Prevention and early intervention — key pillars of community-based care — ultimately reduce the burden on our already overstretched NHS staff.”
“Furthermore, they foster a sense of belonging and community cohesion, ensuring that people do not feel abandoned or isolated. <BR /> <BR />The COVID-19 pandemic was a stark reminder of how vital those organisations are. When public services were stretched to their limits, it was community-led initiatives that filled the gaps, delivering food parcels, offering mental health support and ensuring that vulnerable individuals were not left behind.”
“in the North. <BR /> <BR />Those comments outline the disconnect between the Department and the sector in the delivery of services in our communities. Across our constituencies, we see countless examples of charities, community groups and voluntary organisations stepping up to deliver essential services and offering care and support to the most vulnerable. Their work is not supplementary; it is indispensable. The contribution of the voluntary sector to health and social care cannot be overstated. Those organisations provide front-line services that go from elderly care and mental health support to disability assistance and palliative care. They bring expertise, flexibility and a deep understanding of local needs that often surpasses what statutory services alone can achieve.”
“That calls into question a redesign process that does not consider demand, need, increasing waiting lists or the desire for more services to be provided in the community. The Minister advised that 25 organisations had been successful in the process, despite a total of 259 bids for funding having been received. <BR /> <BR />When the funding announcement was made, Celine McStravick, the chief executive of NICVA, the organisation with which the Department co-designed the new process, said:”
“As outlined on the Department of Health's website, the core grant scheme is in place to support community and voluntary sector organisations and charities to cover their fixed costs, such as 25% of a permanent staff member's annual salary; training costs; rent; rates; electricity and gas; and equipment. Last July, the Minister announced that there would be a redesign to address unfairness in the scheme, which had funded the same organisations for over 20 years. The Minister outlined how the new scheme would be co-designed in partnership with the NI Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) and that it would be relaunched in the autumn. <BR /> <BR />In February, the Minister announced that the total funding pot for 2025-26 was £1·8 million, making it the third year running in which the same amount had been available.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee looks forward to the benefits that this significant reform will bring to the clinical trial sector here and to the improvements for patients in accessing new, life-saving, life-changing treatments.”
“MHRA confirmed the necessity to draft the references in the SI in a way that ensured that legal references for here were aligned with the EU as required. MHRA stated that no significant operational impact on clinical trials here was anticipated and that it would issue guidance before the new regulations come into force to ensure that those who are running trials understand slight differences, mainly regarding manufacturing practice, principles and how they should be managed. <BR /> <BR />On 6 March 2025, the Committee considered the draft SI and agreed that it was content with the policy intent. On 27 March 2025, the Committee recommended that the draft SI be approved by the Assembly.”
“Participation in a clinical trial is associated with considerable attention being paid to safety, and the rights and well-being of the participant remain central to the regulatory framework. The Committee was advised that the involvement of patients and the public is central to research strategy and the approach to delivery of clinical trials and that patients are heavily engaged in the process. The MHRA guidelines will detail what is already commonly followed. <BR /> <BR />At the briefing on 13 February 2025, the Committee asked for clarity on the distinction drawn in the statutory instrument between the EU Commission directive 2003/94 in respect of GB and Commission delegated regulation 2017/1569 in respect of the North. The Committee noted the response from the Department on 27 February 2025.”
“Members noted that ensuring patient safety was an overarching theme in the responses and that there was strong support for the legislation to embed public involvement. The Committee asked the Department to comment on the MHRA's decision that it will introduce detailed guidance to support the embedding of the patient voice in the design and conduct of trials, rather than legislating for that. The Committee was advised that clinical trials are extremely tightly regulated here through complex processes. Patients who participate in clinical trials are much more closely monitored than those who receive treatment outside the context of trials, and every potential adverse event that occurs is recorded and reported.”
“The new approach will reduce the time that it takes to get lower-risk clinical trials up and running without undermining patient safety. A move away from a one-size-fits-all approach reflects modern, innovative clinical trial methods. <BR /> <BR />The aim of the new transparency requirements is to reinforce public trust in clinical research and enable the wider scientific community to build on previous findings. There will be some exceptions, such as delays to protect confidential information or waivers for national security. <BR /> <BR />Departmental officials briefed the Committee on the findings of the public consultation led by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which was carried out from 17 January to 14 March 2022. The Committee welcomed the fact that there was strong support for the proposals.”
“<BR /> <BR />Department of Health officials briefed the Committee on the draft SI on 13 February 2025, including on key changes that will streamline clinical trial approvals, enable innovation, enhance clinical trials' transparency, enable greater risk proportionality and promote involvement in clinical trials without compromising safety standards. The regulations introduce a more flexible and proportionate regulatory framework while promoting patient safety. For example, the notification scheme introduces risk-proportionate regulation whereby low-risk trials will receive faster approval through automatic authorisation but clinical trials of a product about which there is a significant safety concern will not be eligible for notification.”
“I welcome the opportunity to confirm the Health Committee's support for the motion. The Committee recognises, as the Minister has just said, that it is the most substantial reform of clinical trials regulation here in over two decades. The Minister outlined how clinical trials are crucial to the development of safe and effective medicines, especially for those with limited treatment options. High-quality clinical trials contribute to the creation of a modern health service designed to foster innovation and deliver world-class care. Organisations that carry out clinical trials produce better outcomes for patients.”
“We also need to see the wise investment of the money that the Minister has available to him and the target waiting times for cancer to be met.”
“However, it is clear that the expectation that people will have when beginning their journey of cancer tests and, if appropriate, diagnosis and treatment is falling far short of reality. Any delay in diagnosis or treatment will clearly impact on patient outcomes. It is important to remember that the figures that I have mentioned are not just statistics: those percentage figures equate to real people. For too many, the delays are their lived experience, and, for others, they are the experience of partners, family members and friends. <BR /> <BR />I note that the Health Minister has a confirmed budget and ring-fenced money for red-flag cancer and time-critical treatment. We are in the third year of a 10-year cancer strategy, and we must do better. We need to see the Minister building on the recommendations in the cancer strategy.”
“I wish to express my concern at the most recent statistics for waiting times for cancer patients. Those statistics were published last week and are relevant for the period from October to December 2024. The figures do not make good reading. Only 87·5% of cancer patients started treatment within 31 days of a decision to treat, instead of the target of 98%; only 37·9% of patients started treatment within 62 days following an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer, when that target is set at 95%; and just 31·7% of people were seen within 14 days by a breast cancer specialist following an urgent referral, despite the fact that all urgent breast cancer referrals should be seen within a two-week period. <BR /> <BR />I acknowledge that there are several caveats at play with any statistics, so some caution should be exercised.”
“On a point of order, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. Yesterday, during Question Time to the Minister for Communities, I was not in my seat when I was called to ask my question. I record my apologies to the Assembly and the Speaker's Office for that.”
“I thank the Minister for her update on work on the Roe valley along the Causeway coastal route. Further to that, can the Minister advise on progress on including the Causeway coastal route in the Wild Atlantic Way?”
“<BR /> <BR />Our focus must be on improving patient outcomes through improving our healthcare services in Craigavon and across the North. That means having modern, fit-for-purpose buildings and equipment and taking a whole-system approach to the challenges that we face, such as the growing waiting times, ambulance waiting, handover times, workforce issues, early detection and preventative healthcare. We should do everything that we can to build a stronger, better health service across the North.”
“<BR /> <BR />We know that British Government policies of austerity have severely impacted on our ability in the North to provide first-class public services. As I have said on many occasions in the Chamber, nowhere can the impact of those disastrous austerity policies be seen as clearly as in their negative impact on health. For their part, the Executive have prioritised health and have a Programme for Government commitment to reduce waiting lists. The Health Minister gets 52% — £8·4 billion — of the Executive's Budget. Ultimately, it is the Minister who is responsible for spending that budget and for deciding where it is spent and how it is spent. He is also responsible for the trusts and their delivery.”
“As others have noted, the draft budget contains £390 million that the Minister has ring-fenced for capital projects, including the new maternity hospital, a new children's hospital and a learning and development centre. We were told in a previous Committee budget briefing that there are a significant number of new projects that the Department would like to commence in 2025-26 but are, unfortunately, unaffordable within the Department's capital budget allocation. Nevertheless, we propose to commence a mother-and-baby unit in Belfast and a new emergency department (ED) at Altnagelvin Area Hospital. There are capital projects, and, as the mover of the motion said, any discussion about Craigavon is further down the list. It would be good to hear the Minister's thoughts on that.”
“<BR /> <BR />Craigavon is an acute hospital, so it must be supported to deliver acute services safely and sustainably. It must have up-to-date and modern equipment, and its building needs to be appropriate for patients and staff alike. The first line of the motion talks about:”
“If people are to have confidence in hospital reconfiguration and transformation, the infrastructure that supports those must be fit for purpose. That includes the buildings, the workforce and the equipment. It includes all those things at Craigavon hospital. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin understands the need to deliver the transformation of our health system in order to cut waiting times and provide high-quality services. Health transformation must be guided by evidence and partnership working. More detail regarding the categorisation of our hospital network, including Craigavon hospital, is required, and evidence behind those categorisations needs to be communicated in order to give the public confidence and better understanding. We also need to recognise the transformational potential of cross-border and all-Ireland health services.”
“As everyone else has done, I thank the Members for tabling the motion. The timing of the debate is fortuitous, coming as it does a day after the Comptroller and Auditor General's report, which highlighted the fact that 16% of the imaging equipment used in patient scans in the North is out of date, thus impacting negatively on times for diagnostic processes. That, in turn, adds to the time for appropriate treatment and ultimately affects patient outcomes. Of particular concern in the report is the fact that the number of patients waiting longer than two weeks for a red-flag suspected cancer scan has increased from 260 to almost 1,800. Yesterday's report underlines the importance of properly investing in equipment and infrastructure across our health services.”
“Will the First Minister continue working to promote the North as a vibrant place to live, work and invest in?”
“I agree with the proposer of the motion: it is an important issue. It is vital for the health and well-being of our children, and it merges into the educational well-being of our children. We look forward to hearing from the Minister and hope that he will make some good pronouncements on the issue in his conclusion.”
“Actions relating to health visitors include that the Department of Education should undertake a review of the Sure Start staffing structure to ensure that there is access to the necessary health professions, including health visitors and midwives. The Department of Health should expand the developmental role of the health visitor/community midwife to provide early support, education and signposting. We have called for it to be fully funded and for the implementation of its recommendations. <BR /> <BR />The independent review of education commenced in October 2021 and is also an NDNA commitment. The final report was published in December 2023, and, while its key recommendations were education-focused, it noted:”
“As the Member who moved the amendment said, while it is primarily a health issue, it has implications for the education of our young children. She outlined the 'A Fair Start' action plan, which was submitted by the expert panel on educational underachievement to the then Education Minister in 2021 and was endorsed by the whole Executive. It is an New Decade, New Approach (NDNA) commitment. It aims to ensure that children get the support that they need from birth and throughout their early years, up to and including the time when they start school. It prioritises investment in early years and gives prominence to emotional health and well-being.”
“Sinn Féin also agrees that the Minister should:”
“<BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin will support the motion and the amendment and agrees with their key ask that the Minister should:”
“<BR /> <BR />Early detection for health and/or developmental challenges is vital, especially at a time when support is becoming harder to access due to growing waiting lists. As we know, schools are struggling with the increasing levels of support required when children enter preschool and primary school. I recognise the difficulties of workforce strain and stresses from the pressures of huge caseloads, but the number of missed year 1 visits and no contacts is concerning, particularly, as the Member across the Chamber outlined, in the Southern Trust area, where those figures are much higher. Regional inequality is being perpetuated as a result of gaps in the accessibility of health visitors in some areas; those gaps can create and exacerbate existing health inequalities.”
“, I recognise and have witnessed first-hand the vital role of health visitors and the work that they do, whether that is monitoring a child's developmental milestones, providing support and advice to parents where required, the prevention and early detection of ill health or developmental challenges or identifying babies and children who are potentially at risk. The role of health visitors is clearly important in ensuring that children have the best start in life to allow them to fulfil their potential and improve their long-term health outcomes. That, in turn, has had a positive impact on those children, as they have developed through life, and on their families, their schools, the health service and the economy as a whole.”
“— it is Irish for "grandfather" but sounds much younger”
“I thank the Members opposite for tabling this important motion. I will begin by saying that, as the father of four children and daideo”
“Minister, what support is available to individuals and their families whilst they await an assessment?”