To ask the Minister of Health to detail the number of individuals recorded with Hashimoto's disease in each of the last three years, broken down by Health and Social Care Trust.

HSC Trusts do not collect this information as Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common form of primary hypothyroidism in Northern Ireland. Most people are diagnosed and treated in a primary care setting and are never referred to endocrine services in acute hospital. The prevalence rate in our community may be as high as 2-3%.

Given that the majority of people with this condition are never referred to secondary care, this number would not be reflective of the prevalence rate in the community.