Alan Robinson
East Londonderry · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“As the school year comes to a close, 2026 will see the loss of two high-profile educators in Roe Valley. Those two individuals have given many valuable years of service to the education system.”
“<BR /> <BR />Marshall and Nicola, I hope that you begin your well-earned rest with immense pride in all that you have accomplished. Your schools will undoubtedly miss you, but your legacy will continue through every pupil whose life was enriched because of your years of service.”
“<BR /> <BR />While the two individuals led very different schools, they shared a calling: to provide the best education for young people and to inspire those around them. They have been a steady, reassuring presence for generations of children and trusted colleagues to their staff.”
“He has been an incredibly popular head of school and has the respect of many across the education system in the Province. I wish him well and trust that he will enjoy having more time for the sports that he is so deeply fond of, including rugby.”
“I thank the Member for that response. I very much welcome the addition of a padded protective area, which is something that I had lobbied for. I am keen to know whether there are any plans to increase the number of Changing Places facilities in Parliament Buildings in order to improve accessibility for staff and visitors.”
“Like others, I support the motion. For many individuals and couples across Northern Ireland, the dream of becoming parents is accompanied by years of emotional heartbreak. Couples who have undergone that journey will tell you that it is the uncertainty that kills them.”
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“I again address the growing crisis in our health service — a crisis that touches every corner of Northern Ireland and affects every one of us in the Assembly and, more importantly, the people whom we all represent. Our health service continues to be at breaking point. As is said ad nauseum, urgent action and financial resources are needed to address it. Current hospital waiting times are simply unacceptable. We have reached a critical juncture where thousands of patients are being forced to wait far too long for their first consultant-led outpatient appointment.”
“I am the right Alan. Does the Minister agree that the projects in the Causeway Coast and Glens that are now at risk are absolutely vital to that region? Does she agree that the action of the Labour Government in announcing the pause was an absolutely despicable way to treat the people of the Causeway Coast and Glens region and, more so, the local borough council and its officials? It is a shameful way for elected reps in the Labour Government to treat elected representatives in Causeway Coast and Glens.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Can she assure the House that the scheme will be delivered by the end of the mandate?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. Like others, I share my anger at the Labour decision. What engagement did the Minister receive from the Labour Government in advance of their decision?”
“I thank the Minister for his update to the House. Will he also update the House on what additional funding he intends to allocate to the Coleraine campus?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement to the House. He rightly referred to the North West Cancer Centre. What further work is planned to ensure that the centre becomes one of the leading and best cancer centres on this island and in the world?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Will his Department, along with Tourism NI, continue to identify ways to support locally grown events such as Stendhal?”
“We cannot support a motion that appears to accept the failure of the Department of Health to provide this incredibly important local paediatric pathology service for parents going through that traumatic experience. Exporting it is not the answer; solving it is.”
“That said, health has been prioritised by the Executive and has seen its baseline funding increase by £2 billion since 2020. <BR /> <BR />With regard to the later parts of the motion, we refer Members to the Bengoa report, which the current First Minister launched when she was the Health Minister in 2016. The 'Systems, not Structures' report by Professor Bengoa was designed to deliver the transformation the health service needs and to achieve the best clinical outcomes for people here. <BR /> <BR />In closing, I recognise and commend the work of the charity Sands. It is an organisation that supports anyone affected by pregnancy or perinatal loss and provides bereavement care and support for parents in those very difficult circumstances.”
“With the Liverpool or Dublin option, the parents travel with their child, but leave their crucial support network of wider friends and family at their most vulnerable time and when that support is most needed. We want to be clear that the service should be available in the health service in the Province, and we unfortunately cannot support a motion that forces parents on a journey of hundreds of miles with their loved one during a time of extreme personal trauma. The service needs to be provided by the Department of Health, and it is unforgivable that we do not have a local solution after nearly six years. We support the contention in the motion that more money is not the key to resolving the well-documented issues that face the health service today.”
“<BR /> <BR />Today, we wish to make it absolutely clear that we fully support those services, but simply exporting the issue to Liverpool or Dublin is not acceptable. However, the motion as drafted seems to just accept the fact that perinatal and paediatric post-mortem services, which are currently unavailable in the Province, could be delivered more efficiently and compassionately on an all-Ireland basis. The outworking of that premise is an acceptance that parents should travel with their baby for a post-mortem in Liverpool or Dublin. In our eyes, the status quo of a trip to Alder Hey Children's Hospital or the alternative of a considerable drive to Dublin is unacceptable. <BR /> <BR />Let us show some empathy to those in that situation.”
“Yesterday, the House considered a motion on cancer. Today, there is another sensitive issue in the Order Paper: post-mortem services for babies and children. At the outset, I sympathise with any parents who have had to walk through this highly traumatic circumstance. Few will know what it feels like, and I cannot imagine how difficult it is. I hope that all Members will be very sensitive to that fact today. <BR /> <BR />At the core of the motion is the fact that, since the end of 2018, the health service in Northern Ireland has been left without a single paediatric pathologist. All Members will agree that that is unacceptable, and I look forward to the Minister's explanation of not only what measures have been taken by the Department to recruit a consultant in this field but when that staff member will be in place.”
“It is another in a long list of fish kills in the Province and across the UK, and I call on anyone who has information about the source of this latest kill to please report it urgently.”
“I want to comment briefly on the fish kill that happened in the River Roe in County Londonderry. The incident was confirmed by the Loughs Agency, which said that 700 juvenile salmon and trout died in the incident at Burnfoot, between Limavady and Dungiven, on Friday evening. That is a spawning area for salmon and a nursery area for juvenile fish, both salmon and sea trout, and the incident could have a long-term impact on the river. Anglers in the area have all said that they are devastated by what happened over the weekend. It appears to have been a huge incident. I call on the agencies to urgently identify the source, investigate the matter fully and if, as we suspect, it is foul play, ensure that those who are responsible face penalties.”
“I hope that the outworkings of the amendment, which widens the original motion, will include exploring opportunities for further cooperation and delivering groundbreaking research. Collectively, we can make strides in cancer care and improve patient outcomes to help to build a healthier future.”
“By pooling resources and expertise across the British Isles, we can accelerate progress on cancer prevention, treatments and interventions, but we certainly cannot restrict that to just one region. <BR /> <BR />I thank my colleague Diane Dodds for proposing the amendment. She spoke eloquently, as she always does. I have to applaud her for her understanding of the Health portfolio. I thank the many others who spoke in the debate. Liz Kimmins, Tom Elliott, Stewart Dickson and the Minister all referred to the North West Cancer Centre. I thank the staff for the work that is going on there. In a twist of fate, as I speak in the House, I have a parent who is undergoing treatment for cancer at Altnagelvin. <BR /> <BR />I urge the Department to engage meaningfully with its counterparts across the British Isles.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. There were 22,600 deaths from cancer in Northern Ireland from 2017 to 2021. According to Macmillan Cancer Support, cancer kills 167,000 people in the United Kingdom every year. The biggest killers are lung cancer and breast cancer, and, with 4,500 people dying from those cancers per year, we need to do better. <BR /> <BR />As has been referred to, we have a cancer strategy for Northern Ireland, which was launched in 2022. That strategy is a road map that aims to place Northern Ireland at the forefront of world-class cancer prevention and treatment. Its 60 recommendations should be the bedrock of how we progress cancer diagnosis and treatment in the Province. We must recognise that collaboration is key to unlocking further potential.”
“Thank you, Minister, for your answer. What further message can the House send to those who come to our beaches and think that it is OK to use them as outdoor bins and expect everyone else to clean up after them?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. I have been stunned by the amount of interest in the topic since it was raised in the House. Will the Minister confirm that the certificates will be free, as they are in England? Will the Minister consider extending the criteria beyond the 1 September 2018 threshold?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. I certainly wish him well. <BR /> <BR />We predicted that, when one Health Minister walked out of the door and another walked in, the new Minister would have the same challenges to face up to as he walked through the door. In his statement, the Minister touched on workforce pay. Members of the House have been invited to join junior doctors who will stage a protest outside the Building on Thursday. Unfortunately, I cannot attend, but I have made my views known in the Chamber. Does the Minister intend to join the protest and speak to the junior doctors to give a fresh perspective on that negotiation?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Will the Minister consider reinstating the Bookstart Baby programme?”
“I hope that the damage can be speedily repaired, but the town that I was born and bred in is open for business. Please come to Limavady and support our traders in their hour of need. You will not receive a better welcome than in the home of the 'Londonderry Air'.”
“When I arrived on Thursday evening and saw the centre of Limavady ablaze, with black smoke billowing across the stunning Roe valley, it brought back memories of terrorist campaigns, the hallmark of which were town-centre explosions, of the 1970s and 1980s. Had it not been for the quick action of the fire service, several very popular businesses would be blackened shells today. <BR /> <BR />Although buildings can be replaced, people cannot. Therefore, I offer my personal thanks to the emergency services, particularly the dozens of firefighters who fought into the early hours to prevent that blaze spreading. The fact that lays bare the danger of that fire is that, 60 feet from the blaze, there is a fuel station. Had that been impacted on, we would have been looking at an entirely different outcome.”
“I pay tribute today to the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, which, on Thursday night and into the early hours of Friday morning, bravely fought a huge fire in Limavady town centre. It was the largest fire in living memory in the town, and it was in an area of Limavady that I know very well. My office, which I share with an outgoing Member of Parliament, and which has served the people of the Roe valley for 20 years, sits on the same street on which the fire raged. I grew up just around the corner from that street, so it saddens me to see the damage that has been caused to that corner of our town centre.”
“I ask the Minister this: what action is being taken to ensure patient safety during the forthcoming strikes? I call on the Minister of Health to keep engaging with the BMA to try to address the concerns of junior doctors, taking inspiration from the agreement that was reached in Scotland and the recent outcome in Wales. <BR /> <BR />Our junior doctors are valued by everyone in the House, and our citizens should receive the care that they deserve. A balance needs to be struck, but that can be done only with direct engagement by all sides in good faith. I hope, even at this late hour, that, on the back of this debate, the situation can be de-escalated. I very much look forward to hearing the Minister's updated position today.”
“The Minister is on record as saying that below-inflation pay awards are a direct consequence of the austerity policies that have been adopted by the Conservative Government. Each 1% increase in medical pay is currently estimated to cost £6·6 million per annum recurrently. We are all too versed in the financial pressures that face this Administration. The recent Budget announcement, in which Health will receive over half of the total amount allocated to Departments for day-to-day running, has created hope among junior doctors. However, they need more than hope. <BR /> <BR />There is no question about the vital role that junior doctors play in the health service, but I am spooked by the effect that the latest strike action will have on patient outcomes.”
“The BMA states that staff levels will rise only if we see proper pay rises that make Northern Ireland an attractive place in which to practice medicine. It will be impossible to address waiting lists if we do not have the staff working in the health service. <BR /> <BR />Although pay is key, so, too, is burnout. At Committee, we were told that coffee and goodwill is currently saving the health service. The Minister, in correspondence with the Committee, said that he will await further clarity on any final settlement in ongoing pay negotiations on the mainland. However, health in Northern Ireland is devolved, so I wonder why we must wait on the outcomes in England, particularly when we see the movement that has occurred in Scotland and Wales.”
“She said that they were not looking for a pay uplift in one go, and that they would accept an annual uplift with an annual negotiation. We were also told that the DDRB uplift for 2023-24 had not yet been paid, even though the Department had allegedly given a commitment that it would be paid immediately following the restoration of the Assembly. However, it was good to learn that the award will be paid in the June pay run, with the Department now stating that it will be in pay packets next month. I hope that that will be the case. Pay is a central issue of concern, with 72% of junior doctors saying that their current pay makes them more likely to leave Health and Social Care in the Province.”
“We all hoped that the industrial action that was held earlier this year would have brought matters to a head. There is no question about the vital role that junior doctors play in the health service. I am spooked by the effect that the latest strike action will have on patient outcomes. I fear that the strike will result only in the further loss of those whom we train, such is the frustration among junior doctors. With waiting lists at an all-time high, we need, now more than ever, to retain those whom we train. <BR /> <BR />The Health Committee recently heard from the chairperson of the BMA's junior doctor committee, who said that there had been no negotiation. She highlighted to the Committee the fact that junior doctors' pay is the lowest in the UK.”
“The alarm bells rang in this Building earlier today to call us to order, but it is safe to say that alarm bells are ringing about the future of our health service. Yet another day, yet another crisis in health. The mounting pressures that weigh on our health system make me, as the father of a young child and a citizen of this Province, fear for the future. <BR /> <BR />As we stand on the precipice of junior doctor strikes, we recognise that such action tends to be a last resort. It is a desperate plea for fair pay and acknowledgement of their sacrifices. Junior doctors state that their counterparts in neighbouring jurisdictions enjoy better pay, improved working conditions and manageable workloads. Therefore, it is no wonder that recruitment and retention have become pressing issues here in the Province.”
“— the situation will inevitably worsen as our ageing population grows.”
“All of that points to a model of general practice that is on its knees, and without concerted action —”
“The morning rush to obtain an appointment by phoning the practice is utterly unacceptable for a modern service, and new ways need to be provided. That could include the ability to seek assistance and obtain an appointment online via mobile phone. Surely, there is no reason why primary care and other areas of public services, such as MOT booking, should be in any way less equipped for the modern world than business and retail. <BR /> <BR />It is clear from the two reports that primary care in Northern Ireland has reached crisis point. We have fewer GP practices than 10 years ago, GP contracts are being handed back and a large cohort of trained GPs are choosing not to work in primary care or are working very limited hours because of the stress involved and a lack of support.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is welcome that £5 million has been made available to help cover the cost of insuring GPs against claims, hopefully aligning with arrangements in other parts of the UK. That will, in the short term, provide much-needed support and security for our front-line healthcare providers, and we can only hope that it will help to persuade graduates to work in the Province rather than being lost to across the border. It is certainly a welcome start, and it is one that we hope will provide a longer-term solution. <BR /> <BR />Added to the many other problems, the primary care estate is not in good shape. Technology needs to be embraced and better utilised, whilst being mindful of the quality impacts on certain protected groups.”
“The report went further and said that fellowships were not available for young GPs working in substantive posts unlike in other parts of the UK, where weekly opportunities exist to further develop clinical aspirations. Many of the GPs surveyed reported practice infrastructure that was not fit for purpose, which led to poor working conditions, and the lack of a functioning secondary care service was highlighted as exacerbating GP workloads and patient demand. Also, there was a perception among many GPs that little help was available for practices until they reached the verge of collapse. Notably, only one of the practice contract hand-backs was in an area where an MDT model was in place.”
“Some 60% said that they had found it fairly or very difficult to recruit GPs to their practice in the past year.”
“An increasing number of early-career GPs who have trained in the Province are not taking up posts here, and, according to the recent RCGPNI survey, 29% of GPs stated that they would be fairly or very unlikely to be working in general practice in the Province in five years' time.”
“<BR /> <BR />The recent Royal College of General Practitioners Northern Ireland (RCGPNI) strategy to tackle GP workforce retention and 'A Workforce Fit for the Future' had similar concerning findings. The average number of registered patients per practice has increased by around 17% from 5,500 to 6,439 since 2014. This increasing demand suggests the need for a further expansion in GP training places into the future. Whilst training more GPs is important, so is ensuring that those who qualify remain here and forge a career in primary care across Northern Ireland. The drain of expertise to other jurisdictions needs to be stemmed.”
“Without a clear road map, we risk stagnation and missed opportunities for improvement. Recruitment, training, retention and reward mechanisms are crucial components of workforce development. The Department of Health needs to do more to incentivise newly trained GPs and, indeed, to incentivise to stay those with experience who are considering walking away from the profession. This means ensuring that they have the space and opportunity to pursue professional aspirations. It means fair remuneration for the work that they do, and it requires a workforce strategy that practically acknowledges the need for flexibility when it comes to longer-term fostering and guaranteed leave.”
“There are, however, legitimate unanswered questions facing the Department of Health on the current levels of accountability for activity in GP surgeries. Is the Minister confident that throughput has returned to pre-COVID levels? Has face-to-face contact increased in recent months? How many appointments are made available each day, and how does that vary from practice to practice? Are there plans for targets to be set in contracts for GP services? There is scant detail on these areas, and there is an apparent dearth of any robust or strategic approach to capturing such data for the purposes of informing future general medical services (GMS) contracts for service delivery. <BR /> <BR />A workforce strategy is a cornerstone of any successful healthcare system. Regrettably, the Province lacks a specific strategy tailored to general practice.”
“I trust that the Minister will answer the following questions today: has he taken this recommendation on board, and will he expedite the review of the MDT project and bring a revised business case? <BR /> <BR />Other findings in the report were that pressures on general practice are driven by a growing and ageing population and that a significant number of GP practices are under severe pressure. It also found that data on activity in general practice is limited and that it is unclear whether activity is above pre-COVID levels. Published workforce data does not provide a picture of the working patterns of GPs. Nobody is questioning the commitment and integrity of our GPs or allied health professionals and the staff who support them.”
“MDTs are key to reversing the fortunes in general practice and wider healthcare. Working as part of a much larger team is attractive to many doctors. It means, in simple examples, such as arranging annual leave or covering for a colleague who is off sick, that there is a much broader group to carry the burden, rather than just one or two colleagues. The Department of Health has cited financial pressures as the key issue in not improving primary care. However, the Comptroller and Auditor General was clear in his March report that, even with a lack of sufficient funding, the Department needs to explore alternative and credible options for the implementation of the MDT model over the coming years.”
“<BR /> <BR />The report said that 1,448 GPs were registered on the Northern Ireland primary care medical performers list as of 31 March 2023 but that more than a tenth of GPs on that list left during 2022-23, with 318 GP practices in the Province as of 31 March 2023. However, of those, 39 were assessed as being at risk in the same period. On top of that, 13 contracts were handed back during 2022-23. The report detailed how general practice accounts for 5·4% of all health and social care spend in the Province, with £375 million spent on GP practices in 2022-23. <BR /> <BR />Whilst multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) are seen as a key element of transforming primary care and helping the wider healthcare system, only 8% of registered patients had access to the full range of MDTs as of March 2023. Progress on MDTs simply has not met the ambitions.”
“Professionals such as GPs, nurses, health visitors, physiotherapists, social workers and mental health practitioners form the backbone of our healthcare system. They are the spine of the health and social care team. <BR /> <BR />To put that into some context, 2,041,000 patients were registered with GP practices in Northern Ireland as of 31 March 2023, with around 200,000 general practice consultations undertaken each week in 2022-23. However, recent findings from the NI Audit Office reveal concerning trends. Almost one in three local GP practices has sought crisis support in the past four years. That alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for action. We cannot afford to overlook the challenges faced by our primary care workforce.”
“Forgive me, Mr Deputy Speaker, for starting off my contribution on what some may see as a negative, but it is an issue that dominates my office and one that my constituents will expect and demand that I highlight on the Floor of the House. It is vital to state from the outset that we need to fix it on behalf of patients and GPs. <BR /> <BR />I will follow up my somewhat negative comment by thanking those who work in that vital sector for their tireless efforts. We must always acknowledge their commitment to the well-being of the people of the Province. Primary care is often the first point of contact in our health service, and it plays a key role in maintaining the health and resilience of our population.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. How many Members can say that they have never fielded a call to their office from patients struggling to get through to a GP surgery? I would safely say that not one of us can. I could tell you of multiple complaints to my office. I have struggled to access GP services, my staff have struggled and my family has struggled. It is a common complaint, and it is not getting any better.”
“I very much value the deputy First Minister's comments. I am pleased that she and her Department, in conjunction with the sports Minister, have committed to promoting that event. Will maximum opportunity also be given to another major sporting event next year — the Open at Royal Portrush?”
“I welcome the fact that, in that report, in Causeway district electoral area (DEA), Portrush and Portstewart are highlighted as areas of high need and therefore considered to be two key areas of priority. Coleraine and Limavady were highlighted, with a social housing need of 420 and 213 respectively. <BR /> <BR />Minister, I look forward to hearing from you today. You are from the area, and I know that you have spoken passionately for the Province and, specifically, for the north coast, where you still have your roots. I welcome your contribution today, Minister.”
“However, with 3,604 people on the waiting list as of March 2023 and 2,069 of those in housing stress, it does not take a mathematician to see that there will be disappointment for those on the list, who may have to wait longer than they had hoped. That applies across Northern Ireland and obviously is not unique to Causeway Coast and Glens. <BR /> <BR />The most recent Housing Executive housing investment plan indicated a need for small family accommodation, but, given that the 65-plus age group increased by 26% over the period from 2011 to 2021, there will be a need for the design and construction of greater amounts of accommodation for older people.”
“I will not speak on any specifics of the housing need on the north coast. I know that that may seem a little strange, given that I represent the area, but my party colleague Maurice Bradley and I have what you may call a "gentleman's agreement" whereby I look after the west of the constituency and Mr Bradley looks after the east of the constituency. Therefore, Maurice, who unfortunately remains off while he recovers from a period of ill health, would have been a capable individual in a good position to give many practical examples of the housing needs on the north coast. I will be limited to comments around the social housing new-build programme. <BR /> <BR />In Causeway Coast and Glens, in the previous financial year, there were 79 new social houses started, with a proposed 576 new builds being planned for the period from 2023 to 2026.”