Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Health to detail any steps he is taking to fill adult social care worker vacancies. Minister of Health: A number of actions are being taken to address vacancies across the social care workforce which are informed by the Social Care Workforce Strategy 2025–2035. This work … Continue reading AQW 45571/22-27 – Adult social care worker vacancies
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Health to detail any steps his Department is taking to improve children's access to dental care. Minister of Health: The Department of Health is taking a range of actions to improve children’s access to dental care. In April 2026, I announced an additional £8 million … Continue reading AQW 45459/22-27 – Children’s access to dental care
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Health to detail any steps his Department is taking to support early diagnosis for individuals with dementia. Minister of Health: The Department recognises that early diagnosis of dementia is critical in ensuring individuals and their families can access appropriate care, support and treatment at the … Continue reading AQW 47276/22-27 – Early diagnosis of dementia
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Health whether any assessment has been made of the long-term sustainability of the palliative care workforce. Minister of Health: I recognise the importance of ensuring we have a health and social care workforce who are equipped to provide palliative and end of life care for … Continue reading AQW 44853/22-27 – Palliative care workforce
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Health whether he plans to take steps to ensure that Artificial Intelligence-based mental health tools do not replace clinically appropriate human-delivered psychological support. Minister of Health: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) within mental health services presents both opportunities and important considerations. My Department is … Continue reading AQW 43534/22-27 – AI Mental Health Tools and human-delivered psychological support
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Health whether his Department has any plans to run targeted meningitis awareness activity for teenagers, young adults, students and their families ahead of the next academic year, including information on (i) symptoms; (ii) the importance of seeking urgent medical help; and (iii) the available meningococcal … Continue reading AQW 47139/22-27 – Meningitis awareness
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Health whether any assessment has been made of the use of Artificial Intelligence models such as Radiomics-based Early Detection Model in early pancreatic cancer detection. Minister of Health: My Department is aware of emerging research into the use of artificial intelligence (AI) models, including Radiomics-based … Continue reading AQW 46139/22-27 – Artificial Intelligence models in early pancreatic cancer detection
Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Health to detail any steps he is taking to increase early diagnosis rates for prostate cancer. Minister of Health: Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men in Northern Ireland and often presents with no symptoms in its early stages, making timely access … Continue reading AQW 46045/22-27 – Early diagnosis rates for prostate cancer
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