Health Minister To Improve Services For Children With Disabilities

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has unveiled plans to enhance services for children with disabilities in Northern Ireland.

The proposed improvements include increasing short breaks capacity and expanding family, therapeutic, and behavioural supports within the community. The initiatives will be backed by up to £13 million in additional funding per year, with an immediate allocation of up to £2 million for the remainder of the current financial year.

Minister Nesbitt stated: "There has been increased demand for family support, short breaks, residential care and transitions support across services for children with disabilities. For some time, demand has outstripped supply with a substantial number of families on waiting lists and a growing number of children on the edge of care."

The new funding will enable the health department to address the growing needs of families and children with disabilities, ensuring they receive the support they require to thrive.

Nesbitt continued: "With a shortfall in residential placements, Trusts have been repurposing short breaks units for longer term residential placements. As a result, short breaks services across much of Northern Ireland have been unavailable.

"I have been clear that the situation is not sustainable. I believe the funding I have announced will deliver improvements in a matter of months. I expect clear and measurable improvements in short breaks, but this is also about providing a much greater level of support in the family home.

"Making additional funding available will not deliver expanded services by itself. We will also need to have sufficient levels of staffing. A combined effort between statutory and voluntary sector partners will be required."

The Minister also stated: "The plans are being announced today despite the very severe pressures on the health budget. Having assessed the options, I have concluded that not releasing this funding would be tantamount to a catastrophic cut to services – something I have promised to avoid."

Mr Nesbitt said gaps in short breaks provision had become an increasing issue of concern for his Department and the wider HSC system.

"My officials have progressed a significant body of work to develop a Framework for Children with Disabilities for HSC Trusts. The full implementation of this will require sustained investment and workforce development over the next several years. However, the scale of this challenge should not deter us delivering better solutions and outcomes today.

"I pay tribute to the recent Spotlight documentary ’I Am Not Okay’ which highlighted the unacceptable current situation very effectively. 

"In discussions with my Department, Trusts have highlighted the scale of the challenges in delivering services, which will take time and investment to address. However, I am pleased to report each Trust indicated that several supports could be rapidly expanded to provide the space for medium term actions to improve short breaks capacity."