Robin Swann
North Antrim · Ulster Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Minister for his detailed statement. I know how passionate he is about the subject and how many times he has brought it to the Executive.”
“It has been reported that today will potentially be the warmest day of the year. As we move into the summer and our summer holidays, I want to raise public awareness of wildfires across Northern Ireland, which have been detrimental to farmland and our environment over the past number of years.”
“Wildfires are still having a detrimental impact on our environment and, occasionally, on livestock, but that reduction shows the impact of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service's proactive approach to educating the general public and engaging with rural communities and schools on its fire safety message, which is to stay alert, not…”
“There has been a lot of talk of sport in this place over the past few days, with everybody concentrating on UEFA. One sport that is going on across Northern Ireland at the minute is cross-community and goes across all age groups without fear, favour or distinction: pigeon racing.”
“I want to put on record that, since this place passed the amendment that recognised pigeon racing as a sport under the 2016 Act, over the past five years, pigeon racing clubs across Northern Ireland have been able to obtain £113,000 of rates rebates through the sports and recreation rate relief, allowing many of those clubs to continue ra…”
“There was much coverage on social media over the weekend of an incident in Staines in England, in which a police car rammed a young calf to bring it under control. It has restarted the conversation about animal cruelty. <BR /> <BR />I am dealing with a specific case in my constituency.”
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“They will enable the quality of the service to be evaluated and benchmarked to identify target areas for service improvement focus. That will be particularly welcome in these very challenging times. <BR /> <BR />In supporting the motion, I thank all Members who have made contributions. It remains vital that we address in a timely way the needs of those children with hearing difficulties and deafness. I thank all the professionals working in our paediatric audiology service, our paediatric auditory implant service and our health and social care trusts, who continue to work tirelessly in these unprecedented times.”
“That, however, will be in the medium term rather than the short term, as the main difficulties during the pandemic are with staffing and facilities' capacity, and that is not expected to change over the next six months. <BR /> <BR />Members will be aware that my Department, the Health and Social Care Board and the National Deaf Children's Society have worked collaboratively to draft quality standards for paediatric audiology services for Northern Ireland, and we expect those to be adopted and published later this year. The Regional Audiology Forum, acting as the steering group and working with stakeholders and user representatives, has now completed that work and produced the draft paediatric audiology quality standards. The standards are going through the final approval process.”
“<BR /> <BR />Although the health service is doing its level best to maintain paediatric audiology services during the pandemic, I am clear that more needs to be done to tackle waiting lists. I have already referred to the use of virtual assessments, where patients can be seen in triage. Those new ways of working will have to be with us going forward as we continue to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. I am committed to reducing waiting times for those specialist services and to providing virtual early intervention to ensure that children with hearing difficulties can benefit from the excellent support that our health professionals can provide. <BR /> <BR />Services will require non-recurrent investment in order to bring waiting lists back to an acceptable level.”
“Any child using a hearing aid who has an issue or problem is also assessed and managed appropriately and without delay. <BR /> <BR />It is the case that there have been some cancellations and patients being rebooked as the service reacts to the impact on staffing levels, risk assessments, and bed and clinical availability during the pandemic. That is likely to continue, but our health service will continue to deliver services to those children who require urgent assessment and treatment. The service is delivered by a small cohort of specialist audiologists and clinical scientists. Any staff absence therefore impacts directly on the ability of the service to provide assurance on an indicative time frame for managing clinical and routine patients, as was the case before the onset of the pandemic.”
“<BR /> <BR />An extended working day and six-day working are examples of the service being flexible and open to change in order to address the developing backlog. Children with auditory implants are able to avail themselves of technology, so their devices should be programmed remotely to help ensure that their continuing development and hearing potential is maximised. Anyone whose child has issues or problems with auditory implants is able to contact the service directly, and the child will be managed appropriately and without delay, so if the mover of the motion has specific examples or wants to make my office or the Department aware of any specific cases, I am more than happy to follow those up. I can advise Members that I am informed that there are no children awaiting a fitting of a hearing aid.”
“The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust paediatric audiology service and the paediatric auditory implant service, which is responsible for cochlear implants, have continued to deliver services to children classed as clinically urgent since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The services provided are delivered in line with national professional guidance and public-health guidance on the safe and appropriate delivery of services during the pandemic. As has been indicated, many of the consultations have, where possible, been completed virtually, with safe processes put in place to maintain social distancing, including the appropriate use of PPE for any child who requires a face-to-face assessment.”
“The service has completed 134 such tests since 1 April. In paediatric audiology, those children classed as clinically urgent are still being assessed within 10 weeks of referral. Around 200 hearing tests for children classed as urgent have been undertaken, alongside 100 virtual assessments and reviews of children who regularly use hearing aids. Routine appointments in paediatric audiology, like many other specialities at this time, have experienced delays. However, every effort continues to be made to address that matter through the use of remote appointments or face-to-face appointments where a remote appointment is not appropriate. <BR /> <BR />The COVID-19 pandemic has, unfortunately, resulted in some appointments being postponed due to the need to ensure the safety of patients and staff alike in these most challenging of times.”
“Our collective and immediate focus, quite reasonably, centred our response on coronavirus, but, as Members indicated, our tremendous health service and the people who work in it have remained steadfast in their work and ongoing efforts to maintain services, where possible, while still taking steps to fight the virus. <BR /> <BR />I fully acknowledge the continuing need for early detection, intervention and support for children with hearing difficulties and deafness. I advise Members that the newborn hearing screening programme has continued to operate right throughout the pandemic. All those babies who failed their newborn hearing screening have had their diagnostic auditory brain stem response testing completed within the four-week target. That is a specialist test to provide a more detailed assessment of a baby's ability to hear.”
“I thank the Members for proposing the motion, which provides us with the valuable opportunity to consider the importance of early detection, intervention and support for children with hearing difficulties and deafness across Northern Ireland. I echo many Members' comments in regard to the tone of the debate and the contributions. <BR /> <BR />I have listened closely to the Members who have spoken in support of the motion. I, too, support the motion. As Minister of Health, I understand fully the unprecedented impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our health service.”
“<BR /> <BR />A number of Members referred to the rumours and speculation. I have always said throughout this pandemic that that sort of rumour and speculation is unhelpful. It is what most undermines our staff morale. It puts questions into the heads of families who do not have answers because, often, that speculation, rumour and innuendo, without ground and without basis, is what does the most damage. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, there are undoubtedly questions that will have to be answered by the trust in relation to the outbreaks once the immediate threat has been brought under control. The necessary steps are under way and any lessons will be shared across all health and social care trusts as they emerge because COVID-19 remains a lethal and highly infectious virus. <BR /> <BR />Mr Speaker, thank you for your indulgence.”
“These are standard infection and control measures, which staff observe in order to prevent any transmission from one location to another. Nevertheless, these cases are a stark and tragic reminder that this virus is amongst us and is very much at large in our community. <BR /> <BR />I know that people want to get back to normality, and with our children going back to schools and colleges and many people returning to some kind of work pattern, it feels a little more like normal. These are still not normal times. We have to live our lives in the shadow of this terrible virus until the time comes when we have a safe and effective vaccine. Everyone is feeling the pressure. Each and every one of us must remain robust and not fall prey to the complacency that is creeping in upon us.”
“These measures, as I say, are guided by best proactive advice from the Public Health Agency and learning from Public Health England. <BR /> <BR />On the question of staff moving across hospital sites, I discourage the type of unfounded speculation that there has been. I have received provisional data on genotyping of the outbreaks of those who have tested positive, and, so far, there has been absolutely no link between staff who volunteered to help out across sites and the transmission of COVID-19 into Craigavon hospital. <BR /> <BR />Staff working flexibly across our sites is not uncommon and is safe. It is one of the strengths of our workforce, but I must stress this important point: the staff who came into Craigavon went from an amber PPE site to an amber PPE site.”
“If any Member knows of any family members who have concerns around getting access to tests, please come forward and let us know because they have access to pillar 1. <BR /> <BR />I will respond briefly to a couple of points that have been raised. I can confirm that enhanced cleaning is taking place on both sites several times each day, particularly in outbreak wards, where it happens four times per day, and also in donning and doffing areas. On touch points and staff terminals, measures are guided by best proactive advice from the Public Health Agency and learnings from Public Health England. <BR /> <BR />If the Speaker will indulge me with an extra couple of minutes, I have an extra page to read. I will finish on time, but it is vital that I convey the answers that I have here. I appreciate your indulgence.”
“<BR /> <BR />Mr McNulty spoke about the staff, and it is not just the nurses and doctors; it is the cleaners and the porters. It is the entire team. So often, we look at our health and social care workers as workers in a job. They carry out a vocation and have a dedication that I have seen no equal to in the past seven months. <BR /> <BR />In relation to Daisy Hill Hospital, 13 patients have tested positive and five of those have, sadly, passed away. There is one at home and the remainder have been transferred to Craigavon, in line with the Southern Trust's protocol for management of COVID. Some 204 staff to date have been tested, 28 of whom have tested positive and 73 in total are self-isolating.”
“I want to provide a brief update that I received from the Southern Trust on the patients and staff who have been affected. Ms Bradley talked about hearing the reports in this House; this is information that I have received today, so it is only right that I provide it when I have it. We have had calls for transparency and clarity, so this is the information that I have received. <BR /> <BR />In relation to Craigavon, 14 patients tested positive; six of them have, sadly, passed away, five remain in-patients in North Respiratory for ongoing clinical care and three are at home. In Craigavon, 146 staff have been tested, 23 of whom have tested positive and 45 are in self-isolation. However, 26 of those 45 have now returned to work, such is their dedication and commitment.”
“I said here yesterday that, if those families are reticent about support from the trust or do not think that it is going to be an open and transparent process, that is what the Patient and Client Council is there for. <BR /> <BR />I also want to take this opportunity to reassure the staff who are working through these unprecedented times to care for their patients and our loved ones that they are supported in their work and the daily challenges that they are presented with. This is not about apportioning blame. It is fundamental that we learn from this and take robust steps to ensure the safeguarding of our staff and patients in all of our hospital settings. <BR /> <BR />I listened intently to the debate today, and I take note of Members' concerns and frustrations because I have those same feelings.”
“We want to learn from it and apply that learning here in Northern Ireland, but also to make sure that that learning is not just for the Southern Trust but for all the trusts in Northern Ireland, because, across these islands, we all have the same desire, and that is to ensure that patients, staff and visitors have access to safe healthcare in our hospitals. <BR /> <BR />These are unimaginably difficult times for the families, and I want to assure them that the Patient and Client Council is available to advocate on their behalf and to provide independent support as they engage in the process with the trust and the investigation.”
“I also want to give them reassurance that all is being done to make sure that patients are safe, that the families are supported and that the staff are also important, because time after time in here, tonight, we have acknowledged the work that the staff have undertaken. <BR /> <BR />As I said yesterday, the trust is working with the Public Health Agency and Public Health England to make sure that the management of the response is of the highest standard and that the necessary lessons are learned right across our health and social care system. The trust is taking that necessary learning from Public Health England to identify the actions that can be taken now to support the patients and the families, because Public Health England has already gained experience of outbreaks.”
“I think it is important to be very clear at this stage that, while we want an expeditious investigation, we simply cannot put a timeline on it until we have greater clarity about the underlying causes, which the investigation will provide. An SAI is about learning, and it is vital that we are thorough in our investigation and take every opportunity to learn from these tragic circumstances. <BR /> <BR />My Department and I are in regular contact with the Southern Trust, and I want to assure the public, patients and staff that all necessary measures are being taken, first, to control the outbreaks and, secondly, to investigate the circumstances that caused them.”
“<BR /> <BR />As to why the terms of reference have not been finalised yet, that is because the independent chair and also, importantly, the families will have input into the terms of reference. I have met with families who have been through a level 3 SAI, and their experience was not good. They were not supported right. So when I declared that this outbreak warranted a level 3 SAI, it was not, as the Member said, because it was the only tool in the box; it was the tool that I had to ensure that we could get the answers that the families and also the staff need. <BR /> <BR />As I said yesterday, we expect the chair to be in place by the end of this week, and we will move as quickly as is practicable to get the answers.”
“I have been clear that this is a very serious matter. As I have said previously, a thorough investigation is required so that patients and bereaved families receive the answers that they are entitled to. <BR /> <BR />The Southern Health and Social Care trust has confirmed that the level 3 SAI investigation will be extended to include the outbreak at the male medical ward at Daisy Hill Hospital. The investigation will be independently chaired, and, as I have said, its findings will be made available to the families impacted and will be made public. As I said in the House yesterday, I expect the independent chair to be appointed by the end of this week. I can give John the assurance that the independent chair will be appointed and selected in conjunction with the Health and Social Care Board and the Public Health Agency.”
“Secondly, it is to ensure that the appropriate investigations are initiated, with involvement from the families, and supported and controlled by my Department.”
“<BR /> <BR />Thorough investigations are absolutely essential, and I am determined that no stone will be left unturned to ascertain the facts about the causes and about these cases and about any learning that we can take to prevent a further occurrence. While we do all that we can to protect ourselves and our society from the risk that this virus constantly poses, our citizens should, at all times, expect the highest standards of infection control to be in place across our healthcare facilities. <BR /> <BR />In the light of these recent clusters, the Southern Trust's immediate priorities are, first, to care for affected patients and staff and to prevent the further spread of the virus.”
“I thank Mr O'Dowd for proposing this Adjournment debate. I am thankful for the opportunity to further address the House on COVID-19, the outbreak that we have seen in Craigavon Area Hospital and on the related issues that we have seen in Daisy Hill Hospital, which I commented on yesterday in response to Mr McNulty's question for urgent oral answer. <BR /> <BR />In starting from where Mr Carroll left off, it is about ensuring that this does not happen again. It is about ensuring that we have the support in our health service and hospitals, and the support for the staff, to make sure that we do all that we can to address the spread of COVID-19. <BR /> <BR />I express my sincere sympathies to the loved ones of those who have passed away, and I reiterate that I am deeply sorry for the heartbreak and the loss that those families have suffered.”
“The money for that communication side rests in the Executive Office through the Executive information service. <BR /> <BR />I hope that I have answered as many as possible of the Members' queries and questions on the five regulations and as part of my response to the urgent oral question, which was part of and fitted well into the debate. I commend the regulations to the Assembly.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Chair of the Committee raised a specific question. Discussions are regularly taking place between the four nations of the UK on a range of matters, including the communication of public health information. Our overall messages should be aligned and consistent: regular hand washing, social distancing and the wearing of face coverings. The Executive have set out their own road map to recovery and renewal, and decisions on the unfolding local context are based on medical and scientific advice. The Executive Office will deploy a high-impact public information campaign, using television, radio, print and digital platforms, to ensure that people in Northern Ireland understand how to stay safe and to save lives. The Chair of the Committee asked about the funding for that in my Department.”
“Those who can wear face coverings should do so. We know, and have seen, the difference it can make. <BR /> <BR />Mr Aiken commented on the small minority. Unfortunately, these regulations, their enforcement and compliance, is about making sure that those in that small minority adhere to the message. <BR /> <BR />To conclude, much has been said about communications and messaging. Many Members have emphasised the need for clarity of messaging, and I agree. It is very important that we are careful not to create confusion. However, it is also important that everyone appreciates that we are responding to a very rapidly changing and dynamic situation. We have measured a significant increase in positive cases in the past week, and rapid changes in policy are required to address the increasing risk to the health of the public.”
“We live with this virus by bringing in regulations, like these, to prevent the spread of it, so that more people get the opportunity to live. That is where the challenge comes with the messaging. The Member was right about that, and he highlighted the challenges that come with a five-party Executive. It is not all plain sailing, but there is one thing that reassures me. The message is that we do what we can to save lives, by bringing in these regulations and the support packages. I wish actions matched those messages as well. That debate has been had, and it is not something that needs to be expanded. <BR /> <BR />I turn to Mr Carroll's contribution. Gerry, I fully support your call for solidarity in the wearing of face coverings. I have no problem with that, or the advantages and benefits that it brings.”
“I know where the Member's line of questioning comes from. The Member says it is not serious for the greater number, but my duty is to protect that small number. It is our Executive's duty to protect them, and the House should take reasonable steps to protect them as well. He talks about the roundabout. If I knew when this would finish, I would not be here. I would be somewhere else, making an awful lot more money and doing different work. <BR /> <BR />We are seeing the development of vaccines. Members recall where we were with seasonal flu vaccines, and that is important. This is about that six-month period of how we manage to live with this virus. That is the important phrase that often gets lost when people hear it.”
“We are doing that by advance testing, so we are seeing more cases, but it is about the translation from positive cases to hospitalisation and ICU. As I said in response to Alec Easton's question, there is a two- to four-week time lag. So there are —.”
“Moving on, Mr Allister referred to the challenges that come with delivering a message, and he is right. After six months, this message is not easy to keep giving and it is one that is not easy to keep hearing. However, it is one that I need to give and that people need to hear, because we are seeing an increase in cases. He rightly spoke of proportionality. Just to realign the focus on cases, when we see an increase in the number of cases, that leads to an increase in the numbers of hospitalisations, people in intensive care beds and deaths. The regulations we are bringing are in proportion to those increases. Today, 33 people are in hospital and five are in ICU. I want to arrest that increase now.”
“It is not an easy move to make and that is why we are asking the people of Northern Ireland to stick with the message that the health professionals give.”
“<BR /> <BR />Alan Chambers spoke about the need for a common-sense approach. If common sense was in such abundance that we did not need the regulations, I would be assured and would be more than glad that we could take that approach. Unfortunately, it is not, and we are seeing the outworking of that — in a very small minority — across Northern Ireland. However, those actions have repercussions where people think that it is OK to do that, and that is where we see the spread of the virus. <BR /> <BR />Mr Chambers also mentioned one notable musician from Northern Ireland who has made some interactions. To paraphrase him, the regulations are about bringing us from the dark end of the street to the bright side of the road.”
“However, it was the wrong one, because we now know that we are where we are. Mr McNulty recognised the importance of a community effort, because we have relied on community groups throughout the pandemic. <BR /> <BR />Pat Catney talked about the mental health challenges that are out there. We know the challenges that we have faced and we know about those that will come after the pandemic. That is something that the Health Committee has kept bringing back to the table. From the very beginning, when we started to speak about the pandemic, Órlaithí Flynn sought the reassurance that our mental health action plan and mental health strategy are still on course. It is still on course, and we have added COVID-specific detail to it. We have appointed an interim mental health champion, who is doing sterling work across the sector.”
“Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. If you missed the highlights from this morning, I am sure that you can catch up with them and the answers to the urgent oral question in Hansard. I will try not to repeat any answers that I gave in the debate this morning because we are debating a serious issue. <BR /> <BR />In my responses to Members, I got round to answering Justin McNulty, who signalled the concern that we have been echoing for quite some time, which is about complacency. We saw throughout the summer months that when the weather was good, the number of cases was low and very few people were in hospital. The feeling was almost as if we were through the worst of it. That feeling started to set in and, at that stage, it was an easy message to understand and an easy position to accept.”
“The focus of these regulations is solely about restricting household gatherings. We may have to bring forward further regulations and restrictions for larger social and sporting gatherings should the virus progress over time. The regulations are to do all that we can to prevent the social actions that spread the virus in household settings. I hope that the restrictions will have the desired effect. If they do not, we will have to take further actions.”
“The Executive brought forward these regulations. The Minister for the Economy is fully aware of these regulations. Some of the restrictions, mainly relating to household gatherings, allow building or maintenance work or the services of any trade or profession. However, that is taking into consideration all reasonable measures and a risk assessment to limit coronavirus transmission.”
“The issue of foreign nationals was particularly looked after an outbreak in a meat processing factory. We are aware that those workers need additional support and information. The PHA provided leaflets — I will check this — in seven different languages to make sure that we covered everyone who was working in that facility and lived in the local area. Again, we are fully aware that no matter what we say in here, on the BBC, or in the 'News Letter', 'The Belfast Telegraph' or the 'The Irish News', it is not being picked up by our ethnic populations who are living in Northern Ireland. So the translation of the guidance is being provided by the PHA.”
“The meeting was due to take place in Armagh, and it will proceed. However, we will take cognisance of all the regulations.”
“The new daily cases per 100,000 are published by local council area for the past seven days, and the seven days before that, so you can see a change in the trends and incidence of cases. The information is available on our dashboard. <BR /> <BR />I last spoke to the Minister of Health in the Republic of Ireland at 9.45 last night. I wanted to give him a specific indication of what we are doing in these regulations and to see what further steps he is taking, give the high incidence of the virus in Donegal and Louth. We are concerned and want to make sure that there are no interactions on either side of the border that are affecting the spread of the virus. <BR /> <BR />The Member may also be aware that a North/South Ministerial Council meeting in the health sectoral format is scheduled for 2 October.”
“The Member is referring to the utilisation of a home as a business. The local restrictions allow those working from home to do that. Therefore, the regulations exempt any person who is working and providing a service from home. However, they must comply with the existing requirements to carry out risk assessments and put suitable mitigations in place. If people are using their home as a B & B, meaning that it is operating as a business, those mitigations must be in place, and they must take all reasonable measures to limit the risk of coronavirus transmission.”
“However, when we see those peculiarities being raised and addressed, we will look to give the correct guidance and advice to those who seek them.”
“Very much so. Now that this has been expanded across Northern Ireland, we are facilitating a further question and answer session on topics on the nidirect website to cover all eventualities and a number of the questions that we have been asked today. That is to provide clarity and assurance to people who we are asking to follow this. It was Mr Sheehan who referred, in this morning's debate, to the contract. We have an obligation to make sure that the contract is understood so that people adhere to it. That work is ongoing. Will we cover every eventuality in our regulations and our guidance? I will say no, because there are so many peculiarities when trying to take a measured approach that allows certain freedoms in certain areas for the individuals who need them.”
“There should be no implications. From the beginning, it has always been clear that, in regard to separated partners having access to their children, the regulations should not be used as an excuse not to have access or as an excuse to deny access.”
“Again, the Member has made a valid point. As I said earlier, I met with the Chief Nursing Officer, and it was specifically for care home and hospital settings. I will take the Member's point way and make sure that, if there is a need for clarification in future communications on the change in regulations, it is communicated.”
“In fact, as I said in this morning's debate, we were seeing a decrease in positive cases in BT43 and the Ballymena area due to the measures brought in over a week and a half ago. So, we have evidence that introducing and applying measures that are adhered to across Northern Ireland has an effect. I ask anybody listening to this, and anybody who wants to take a message from this question for urgent oral answer, please, re-engage with the vital health message of social distancing, good respiratory hygiene, good hand hygiene and face coverings.”
“The Member makes a valid point about timescales. The only timescale that is critical here is the timescale of the virus. It will not follow any calendar, any rule or any regulation that we set. We have always maintained that we will look at measures every two weeks. We review our regulations every 28 days to see if the two-week period of incubation that the virus has is having an effect.”
“I have never been accused of not having independent thinking. Presbyterians from north Antrim are assured of our independent train of thought. I assure the Member that I do not follow direct direction from Westminster. I follow the guidance and advice of our Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) to make the right decisions for the people of Northern Ireland at every opportunity. That is why the Executive guidance is clear that those who can work from home should still work from home, especially as we get into this next phase of the pandemic.”
“I apologise to the Member. I do not have my glasses on, so I cannot see the detail from here, Paula. I will happily take it from you. It is vital that we make the messages as clear as possible so that everybody can understand them and we get as much compliance as possible across Northern Ireland so that we set about what we aim to do, which is to prevent the spread of coronavirus. I will happily take that off the Member later.”
“Given the pressures that TEO is now under, including developing the high street task force and in other areas, the duty to take forward the regulations has come to me. I cannot shirk that duty. I cannot shirk that duty as Health Minister, given the aim of the regulations. I will not play politics with it. I never have, and I never will.”