AQW 23014/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Health

To ask the Minister of Health for his assessment of the availability of endocrine specialists in Northern Ireland.

Asked by Connie Egan MLA on 20 February 2025

  • Answered
  • Written
  • After due date
Tabled
20 February 2025
Answer due by
7 March 2025
Answered
1 April 202540 days after tabling
Department
Department of Health
Priority question
No

Answer

Each Trust has provided the following information in regard to the availability of endocrine specialists within their Trust.

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust has confirmed 13 endocrinology consultants.

Northern Health and Social Care Trust has confirmed 3 permanent endocrine consultants and 2 locum consultants. These consultants are employed as General Medicine Consultants within the Endocrine-Diabetes specialism.

Based on the question as asked, South Eastern Trust is unable to provide an exact number of specialists as there are many people working within wider endocrinology – including within diabetes teams, in surgery for endocrine cancers, and paediatrics.

Southern Health and Social Care Trust has confirmed 3 substantive general medicine physicians with a specialist interest of diabetology and endocrinology. The Trust has also some locum provision contributing to the diabetes and endocrine service.

Western Health and Social Care Trust has confirmed 4.89 whole time equivalent consultants, 1.0 whole time equivalent speciality doctor and 1.0 whole time equivalent specialist registrar.

Official sources