Danny Donnelly
East Antrim · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Minister for that answer. It will not satisfy the people of the area. The completion of the 3 km distributor road was planned to be a key part of the development, linking hundreds of houses to the wider road network, but, due to a planning issue by her Department in the 1990s, it never happened.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. Minister, as you mentioned in your statement, the inquiry was highly critical of what it describes as "an adversarial and oppositional approach" by the Belfast Trust to the inquiry.”
“The Minister mentioned the need to reform the health service. In light of the recent startling figures that show that half a billion pounds was spent on locums over the past three years, does he agree that investment in attracting permanent doctors may be a more prudent use of Department of Health resource?”
“<BR /> <BR />As a nurse, I condemn the attacks in the strongest possible terms and highlight the specific impact that they have had on people who care for us when we are at our most vulnerable.”
“Every day, they treat patients with skill, compassion and professionalism. Let us be absolutely clear: when a nurse is intimidated on her way to work and chased by masked men into the Ulster Hospital, that is an attack on our health service.”
“I will speak today about the attacks on our international healthcare staff. I begin by saying that my thoughts are with the victim of the brutal attack in north Belfast and his family. I hope that he recovers well. <BR /> <BR />Violence has no place in our society.”
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“It represents the lessons learned from the pandemic and understanding the need to support our front-line professionals who deliver those programmes, making sure that patient safety and public health remain at the centre of our approach. For those reasons, I support the regulations.”
“That includes greater flexibility on how vaccines can be moved, prepared and labelled in defined circumstances, widening the pool of vaccinators who can safely support delivery and allowing community pharmacies to provide vaccinations off-site. Those changes should help to make vaccination programmes more accessible and more resilient, particularly during periods of heightened demand or public health pressure. <BR /> <BR />They may seem like generic technical changes now, but we have all experienced the uncertainty and impacts of a global pandemic, so we should know that, in practice, better access and a more responsive service to patients, especially during periods of pressure, is a step in the right direction.”
“I also support the motion to approve the draft Human Medicines (Amendment) Regulations 2026. These regulations make a series of practical and sensible amendments to the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, with a clear purpose to support the safe supply, distribution and administration of vaccines across the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland. In essence, this takes a number of temporary arrangements that were introduced during the pandemic and, where appropriate, places them on a permanent footing before those provisions expire at the end of the month. Importantly, it also updates the law so that these flexibilities are not limited and can apply more broadly to vaccines against infectious diseases where that is necessary and where appropriate safeguards are in place.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. It is my understanding that staff car parking is currently free in most trusts. Does the Member have different information?”
“We have heard time and time again from community pharmacists who are struggling to pay their bills and are sometimes juggling different accounts. Northern Ireland pharmacies are particularly exposed, because, traditionally, we have had fewer wholesalers. One wholesaler has already left Northern Ireland. Those pharmacists tell us that they are also particularly exposed because of the clawback, which means that they lose £20 million a year that could go back into the health service. Will you consider removing the clawback so that we can sustain that important industry?”
“Thank you. I am a bit shocked. When we were talking about minimum unit pricing, there was a disregard of the evidence, so I am shocked to hear what the Minister has just said.”
“As the Minister said, the Alliance Party is strongly in favour of minimum unit pricing, and I know this to be a personal disappointment to the Minister today. It is a huge missed opportunity. Previous Health Ministers, including Jim Wells, supported minimum unit pricing and its benefits. The current Minister has said that minimum unit pricing was supported in the Assembly in 2021, and he supports its introduction, yet it is still being blocked. Does the failure to deliver minimum unit pricing not illustrate the wider problem of veto politics preventing evidence-based public health policy?”
“within 12 months and for women's health to be "explicitly embedded" in primary care across the life course. It asks the Department to assess whether current provision is truly meeting its statutory duties. I urge the Minister to not only agree with those warm words but act on them.”
“<BR /> <BR />Women in Northern Ireland also have fewer legal protections than their counterparts in GB. They are continually harmed by the impact of Brexit, and they were left out of adequate roles in public and political life during peace building, so this is about more than just waiting lists or service pressures. It is an entrenched issue, which must be addressed urgently by adopting a joined-up, collaborative approach across Health and other Departments. This is not about blame; rather, it is about accountability and action. <BR /> <BR />The motion does not ask for the impossible. It asks for transparency on the status, funding and implementation of the already promised action plan. It asks for:”
“Laura Maguire is a 25-year-old woman who has been put in a medicated early menopause as she awaits surgery for endometriosis. Marie Mullan said that she waited 20 years for a diagnosis of endometriosis. She was told, mainly by male doctors, that it was just period pain and that she would have to live with it. <BR /> <BR />The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) said that, if those who were waiting across Northern Ireland's five health trusts were to stand shoulder to shoulder, the queue would be over two miles longer than it was in November 2024, stretching almost 15 miles. Those are some of the tragic and unacceptable examples of how women's healthcare has woefully failed. The lack of menopause provision in primary care, as mentioned by the motion's sponsor, is another shocking example of that.”
“Lynsey Courtney and Erin Harbinson both died from cervical cancer following smear tests that were misread by staff in the Southern Trust. Over the course of a decade, Erin Harbinson had three cervical cancer screenings giving her the all-clear, but all were incorrect. Members will be aware that that resulted in a major review of more than 17,000 results of smear tests that were undertaken by the Southern Health and Social Care Trust.”
“She had a suspicion that she had cardiac problems, but she was repeatedly told by doctors that, at 27, she was too young, and, as a woman, it was unlikely that she would have a heart attack, despite raising concerns repeatedly around her symptoms and family history. Frances was persistent and was only referred to a cardiologist when she presented to emergency care. The coronary angiogram showed a blockage in Frances's artery. She said:”
“He made a commitment that, while it was in the early stages, he was putting women at the centre of discussions to ensure that their voices were heard and that limited funds were appropriately aligned with priorities. He was confident that his approach, along with the support of Assembly colleagues, would improve health outcomes for all women and girls in Northern Ireland. Suffice to say that, two years and no plan later, that approach has not worked. <BR /> <BR />The continued delays are having an impact on the women of Northern Ireland, and I will highlight a few of the many real stories of women who are impacted by the lack of a meaningful women's health action plan. Frances Kane was featured as part of the British Heart Foundation's 'Bias and Biology' report on the gender heart attack gap that we have heard mentioned today.”
“The Women's Resource and Development Agency reported that it is difficult to get a full picture of women's health in Northern Ireland because the data is too often siloed, gathered through the lens of one issue or another disease, or not examined through the lens of gender inequality. Without data, there can be no proper scrutiny or full understanding of how to adequately address the issues raised. <BR /> <BR />In February 2024, Alliance moved a motion calling for a women's health strategy. It was my colleague Sian Mulholland's first speech, and it was one of the first motions passed by the Assembly after its restoration earlier that month. The Minister at the time assured Members that he had a strong foundation of work in progress that would form key components of a women's health action plan.”
“I thank Claire Sugden for moving this important motion. Women's health in Northern Ireland is not a series of disconnected problems; it is a systemic equality issue that has been exacerbated by a lack of rights-based, joined-up approaches to women's lives. Women's healthcare is too often treated as a service or budgetary pressure issue when, in reality, it is a policy gap. Where there is no clear strategy and no measurable outcomes, women are left to navigate fragmentation instead of receiving joined-up care, and when they are continually ignored or disregarded, the consequences impact every part of our society.”
“I thank the First Minister for that answer. What representation has the First Minister made to the British and Irish Governments since the passing of the motion on institutional reform late last year?”
“Early identification, timely referral and access to appropriately commissioned specialist care can change trajectories. Such measures save lives, reduce long-term harm and restore opportunity.”
“Individuals are instead referred to general mental health services, and the Department of Health has confirmed that it does not collate data on the prevalence of binge eating disorder here, nor is there a current review of its treatment pathway. That means that we are planning services without a complete understanding of need or a clear strategic approach to one of its most prevalent presentations. <BR /> <BR />We know that inpatient treatment should be a last resort but should be available when needed; that the treatment model should be family-based, in the community, as per NICE guidelines; and that the funding has to go to community teams provision in order to prevent inpatient admission. As we have heard, recovery is possible.”
“His renewed relationship with food and training has enabled him to compete at a national and international level. That outcome is not incidental. When specialist services are available and accessible, they do not simply prevent deterioration but enable individuals to regain stability and fulfil their potential. Conversely, when access is limited or delayed, we risk having not only poor health outcomes but a loss of talent, opportunity and well-being. <BR /> <BR />Claire and Daniel were able to seek help in Northern Ireland, but what about someone with binge eating disorder? Binge eating disorder is one of the most common eating disorders across the UK, yet it does not fall within the remit of specialist eating disorder services in Northern Ireland.”
“That misconception and the stigma attached to it delayed his seeking help when early intervention could have made a significant difference. It was only after engaging with the Western Health and Social Care Trust's specialist eating disorder service that he began to understand the patterns that underpinned his behaviour and access structured, evidence-based support. His experience illustrates two important points: first, that eating disorders can affect anyone, including male athletes, who can appear from the outside to embody physical strength and resilience; and, secondly, that stigma and misunderstanding remain real barriers to timely intervention. In Daniel's words:”
“<BR /> <BR />On the surface, stories such as Claire's can appear to confirm the assumption that eating disorders are about weight and appearance. When you look more deeply, however, you see a need for control, a longing for acceptance and a difficulty in processing complex emotions. You can see an illness that runs far deeper than a number on a scale. <BR /> <BR />Another example is that of Daniel Collins, the champion rower from Derry, who has spoken publicly about his experience of disordered eating and described years of cycling between restriction and bingeing, driven by body dysmorphia and a deeply held belief that he needed to be as lean as possible in order to succeed. As a young man, he assumed that eating disorders were a women's issue.”
“<BR /> <BR />Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses with high mortality rates, and they affect people of every age, gender and background. I recently read an article detailing the experience of a lady named Claire who suffered with disordered eating. Hers was an eye-opening account of the real-life consequences that that can have. She spoke about how, as long as she was getting thinner, she could cope with the fact that her world was closing in around her. She described her condition as a "lonely and ritualistic existence". Her morning weigh-in was "sacred". Friends fell away. School became a struggle. When the vomiting stopped working as a weight-loss method, she began to starve herself. At 17, she was living on around 60 calories a day, consumed by thoughts of food and fear.”
“As we heard, as many as 37,500 people in Northern Ireland could have an eating disorder, and the proportion of eating disorder admissions to the general adolescent inpatient unit has tripled since 2019, I believe; yet there is not one eating disorder youth service team per trust. <BR /> <BR />Those figures, while shocking, do not paint the full picture. How could they, when regional adult eating disorder services are commissioned to treat only anorexia, bulimia and atypical presentations of these conditions? How can we truly understand the scale of the problem when the service is designed around only part of it? The data collected does not begin to capture the full reality. If we cannot properly analyse the need, how can we fix it?”
“First, I thank Mr Martin for bringing this important issue for debate here. Last week, during Eating Disorders Awareness Week, I spoke about the issues that we face in Northern Ireland and the campaign led by the eating disorder charity Beat. It focused on the importance of community, which is very relevant to how the issue is treated. <BR /> <BR />I have spoken to a local eating disorder team and heard about their workforce and funding pressures, which result in very long waiting lists for people suffering from those conditions. It is a life-saving service, and it needs to be strengthened and enhanced.”
“The problems with patient flow that result in overcrowding in our A&Es and pressure on our Ambulance Service will be solved only by investment in community care services, such as domiciliary care. I am glad to hear that the real living wage will finally be paid to those very important workers in the health service. Can the Minister confirm that it will be this year?”
“It has clear potential: the question is whether we have the political will and strategic clarity to realise that potential in a way that strengthens services across Northern Ireland and delivers better outcomes for patients.”
“The North/South Inter-Parliamentary Association has met several times and had healthcare-related presentations on cross-border cancer care and perinatal mental health care. A mother-and-baby unit — something that is not available anywhere on this island — was raised as being a possible project on which to work together. <BR /> <BR />It has been suggested that key healthcare services, including ear, nose and throat surgery, orthopaedics, treatment of rare diseases, cancer care and acute mental health services are potential areas for future all-Ireland initiatives. The South West Acute Hospital presents substantial opportunities for innovation in cross-border service provision.”
“That is an important point. We should not overlook cross-border initiatives when designing a health service that works for people, particularly those in border regions who, too often, feel overlooked already. I know that the Minister is very open to cross-border co-operation on health issues. <BR /> <BR />The examples that I gave demonstrate that cross-border healthcare is neither experimental nor symbolic but is rooted in better outcomes. Aside from the notable exceptions that I mentioned, collaboration remains limited. To date, the approach has been minimalist and is often project specific. The Health Committee met the Committee on Health in the South to discuss opportunities for further cross-border collaboration on health.”
“The accreditation recognises cancer centres that provide the highest standard of integrated oncology and palliative care services with the goal of improving research, education and clinical practice by setting clear standards for service development. <BR /> <BR />Academics have emphasised the importance of that type of cooperation. Professor Mark Lawler, associate pro-vice-chancellor at Queen's University, has said that sharing knowledge and funding could mean that Governments would fight cancer, which he described as being "the common enemy", rather than competing against one another. He argued that Governments should:”
“Crucially, survival rates remained among the best globally, with an overall three-year survival ratio of 98·6%, which exceeds predicted outcomes. <BR /> <BR />Another established example of cooperation in practice is the North West Cancer Centre at Altnagelvin, which provides cancer care for more than half a million people in the western region of Northern Ireland and the adjoining areas in the South. The centre has been awarded the European Society for Medical Oncology's accreditation, having met 13 strict criteria based on the World Health Organization's recommendations on the provision of palliative care for patients with cancer.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will raise a couple of examples of cross-border healthcare already in operation. One of the most compelling examples is the all-island congenital heart disease network and the impact that it has had on children's heart surgery. Survival rates for children with congenital heart conditions in the Republic and in Northern Ireland are said to now match the best results globally. Figures covering 2023 to 2024 highlight increased survival rates and continued advancements in paediatric cardiac care, reaffirming the importance of delivering world-class healthcare for children across Ireland. The data shows that congenital heart disease procedures increased overall, with paediatric surgical procedures being up by 5% on the previous year, reflecting progress in service delivery.”
“I visited the SWAH recently with the Health Committee, and it is clear that more services could be delivered in the hospital. It is an impressive and modern building, but more could be delivered there, and we will certainly work to achieve that. Politics must play no part in preventing us having a health service and hospital systems that work to deliver for everyone across Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />In healthcare, the focus must always be on better outcomes. Geography should never be a barrier to care. When we discuss cross-border healthcare, the debate should be grounded in practical experience and measurable results. There are clear examples on the island where structured cooperation has strengthened specialist services and delivered better outcomes for patients.”
“I thank the Member for securing the Adjournment debate. I welcome the opportunity to speak on the potential of the South West Acute Hospital as a genuine cross-border hospital and what that could mean for patients across the island. <BR /> <BR />Like other Members, I have met representatives of the SOAS campaign; I met campaigners today, and I believe that they are here. I assure the people who live in Fermanagh of Alliance's commitment to ensuring that the South West Acute Hospital is an active asset to their community and to its becoming a hub for elective care for patients across Northern Ireland. I have also had the opportunity to meet local council members and businesses to hear their concerns about healthcare in the area.”
“<BR /> <BR />Any reform to training pathways must strike a careful balance between supporting domestic graduates to promote workforce sustainability and maintaining the openness and diversity that has characterised our health workforce for decades. We should be honest about the fact that prioritisation alone will not resolve the issue of workforce shortages. Mrs Dodds mentioned the safe staffing Bill. I am keen to see progress on that. Training capacity, supervision, retention and working conditions all matter, and, if those core aspects do not improve, frustrations will remain. They will just be at a different point in the system. This legislation is one part of addressing a wider workforce challenge, but it is a welcome and needed step towards addressing the workforce challenge, and we will support it.”
“It is equally important, however, to state that internationally trained healthcare staff make an enormous contribution to our health and social care system. They are valued colleagues and essential members of our workforce. The Bill does not exclude those who trained outside the UK from applying for training posts, but the memorandum acknowledges that the demographic composition of the workforce may change over time. That means that it is essential that implementation is transparent and subject to proper monitoring. That need was highlighted at the Health Committee meeting, and I ask the Minister to speak a bit more to how that monitoring will be achieved.”
“As we have heard many times in the Chamber and at the Health Committee, Northern Ireland faces persistent workforce pressures across primary care, acute services and specialist disciplines. Competition for medical training places has increased significantly in recent years, creating real uncertainty for many graduates who have trained in Northern Ireland and the UK and who are seeking to move on to the next stage in their careers. <BR /> <BR />The intention of the Bill is to restore balance to the system, reduce bottlenecks and ensure that those who train here have a clear route into long-term careers in our health service. It is right that people who train here should be able to do that.”
“I note the Minister's apology for the short notice that was given to the Committee and the Committee's disappointment at the lack of time to examine the issue. <BR /> <BR />At its core, the legislation is about workforce sustainability. That is welcome. The Association for the Study of Medical Education identified the core purpose of the legislation as being to:”
“I do not need to highlight to anyone the fact that another crisis is being kicked down the line, and the forthcoming Budget must demonstrate what lessons have been learned.”
“<BR /> <BR />In the community and voluntary sector, core grant funding underpins services that keep people well, support people in their communities and prevent escalation into acute care. Where core funding is reduced or fails to keep pace with cost pressures, we undermine the very capacity that enables system flow. <BR /> <BR />Finally, we must confront a broader truth that has emerged in Committee discussions over the past year. Too often, decisions have been framed in terms of immediate savings rather than long-term efficiencies. The thrombectomy unit that has been mentioned previously is a good example of that. It is a service that will save lives, prevent disabilities and save money, but it is, as yet, unfunded.”
“Mrs Dodds talked about palliative care, which is another important example of that. The Health Committee recently produced a report on access to palliative care. It is clear that it is a critical service, and it needs to be funded as such. Hopefully, going forward, we will see palliative care funded in a better way. <BR /> <BR />A mental health strategy was launched with huge ambition and expectation, yet reporting over the past year has indicated that 80% of its actions have been paused or shelved and only 16% of the originally envisaged funding has been allocated. If prevention and early intervention are to be more than rhetoric, the forthcoming Budget must address the gap. Otherwise, pressures will continue to manifest in crisis settings, at far greater human and financial cost.”
“<BR /> <BR />In community pharmacy, the £20 million clawback that has been taken from community pharmacies is, in effect, being used to stabilise pressures elsewhere in the health service, while community pharmacies face medication shortages, supplier pressures and increased difficulty sustaining the services that so many people rely on. Community pharmacies are a cornerstone of primary care and a pillar of every community across Northern Ireland. If financial adjustments in that sector are being used to shore up wider HSC pressures, that is not strategic reform. It is internal cross-subsidisation that risks weakening one of the most accessible parts of our health system. If we are serious about shifting care closer to communities, we cannot continue to draw resource away from that sector.”
“We know that that has now been covered. The decision will have real and lasting consequences, not only for the budget but in the uncertainty that has already been created for our healthcare workers who will only be receiving that uplift this month; in fact, I think that it is tomorrow. When a Department is required to absorb tens of millions of pounds in unbudgeted costs, the pressure translates into service constraint, delayed reform and increased operational risk; adds to the structural instability; and rolls forward into the next financial year.”
“First, I acknowledge the constraints that are faced in the budgets. I do not envy the job of any Minister under the current circumstances. However, those who take on the role are taking on a responsibility to make it work as best they can. Unfortunately, too often in Health that has not materialised. We have heard in the debate, time and time again, about the need for a multi-year Budget in order to plan and deliver for better services. I sincerely hope that that can be achieved. <BR /> <BR />The most important asset of any service is its workforce. I highlight the £209 million pay award for healthcare workers. The Minister proceeded with it, rightly recognising the case for pay, but without full funding being in place. The Executive subsequently covered £100 million, and the Department was required to find the remainder internally.”
“Experts are clear that specialist care in the health service is urgently needed to ensure that people can access a formal diagnosis and appropriate treatment. <BR /> <BR />Eating disorders are real, complex and life-threatening conditions. Ignoring the problem does not make it disappear. This week provides an opportunity not only to raise awareness but to renew our commitment to early intervention, specialist provision and supportive communities across Northern Ireland. I encourage everyone to take the time to follow Beat's guidance and improve their knowledge of the reality of eating disorders and of how we can all play a part in supporting recovery.”
“Instead, patients are referred to general mental health services, and regional adult eating disorder services are commissioned to treat anorexia, bulimia and atypical presentations of those conditions. The Department of Health has confirmed that it does not collate data on how many people live with binge eating disorder here and there is no current review of how the condition is treated. If left untreated, it can lead to serious physical health risks and worsening mental health difficulties, including conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, anxiety or depression, any of which can be fatal. <BR /> <BR />Recovery is possible. Access to the right treatment and support is life-changing, and early intervention provides the best chance of recovery.”
“They affect people of every age, gender and background, and they are not simply about weight or appearance. They are complex conditions that impact on mental and physical health. <BR /> <BR />Across the UK, at least 1·25 million people live with an eating disorder. Beat estimates that that could equate to as many as 37,500 people in Northern Ireland. Many of those individuals, however, will feel completely alone. They face a health system that may not even recognise their condition and, in turn, cannot offer adequate support. Binge eating disorder is a clear example. It is one of the most common eating disorders in the UK, yet, in Northern Ireland, it is not currently treated at specialist eating disorder services.”
“and for equitable access to intensive community and day treatments for eating disorders in order to shift care closer to home. I know that the Health Minister is keen to do that. This year, the focus is on community because of the crucial role that it can play in supporting those affected towards recovery. Greater public awareness of eating disorders will mean that those affected are more likely to encounter understanding and supportive communities. Beat is encouraging people to learn more about eating disorders and how they can help. <BR /> <BR />Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses, and they have high mortality rates. Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, and one in six people with binge eating disorder attempt to end their life.”
“Yesterday marked the beginning of Eating Disorders Awareness Week, led by the eating disorder charity Beat, which has called for a fully funded implementation plan for action 29(d) of the mental health strategy:”
“We need proper workforce planning and a meaningful expansion of care in the community to prevent avoidable admissions and support timely discharge. No one should ever spend 19 hours in the back of an ambulance. No paramedic crew should spend its entire shift parked outside an emergency department, and no patient or their family should endure that uncertainty. Delay means fewer ambulances on the road answering calls, and it backs up an already dangerously overstretched system, meaning that those in dire need are waiting longer and are at risk of further harm. The figures should serve as a wake-up call. Managing pressure is not enough: we must fix the structural problems that create it.”
“Last year, Northern Ireland's Comptroller and Auditor General reported that ambulance handover delays led to thousands of incidents of potential harm. Those delays carry serious risk. <BR /> <BR />Let me be clear: this is not a criticism of front-line staff. Ambulance crews and emergency department teams are working in extremely challenging conditions for sustained periods. Ambulance handover delays are a symptom of deeper system blockages. When inpatient beds are full, discharge is delayed and community services are overstretched, the pressure builds at the hospital front door. Ambulances become holding areas because there is nowhere else for patients to go. <BR /> <BR />We need more than winter plans and workshops. We need to remove the blockages in patient flow.”