To ask the Minister of Health to detail any steps his Department has taken to ensure children and young people with neurological conditions have equitable access to therapeutic activity programmes, comparable to those available to their non-disabled peers.

My Department is committed to ensuring that children and young people with neurological conditions have equitable access to a range of therapeutic activity programmes comparable to those available to their non-disabled peers.

A key priority within the Autism Strategy is improving regional pathways of care. In support of this, my Department recently consulted on the Children and Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing Framework. The Framework proposes an inclusive, needs‑based approach to neurodiversity which does not require a formal diagnosis as a prerequisite for support. This model aims to reduce stigma, promote earlier intervention, and improve outcomes across health, education, and developmental domains. It is hoped that this shift towards regionally consistent pathways will make access more predictable and reduce existing postcode variation creating a more equitable offer of support across Northern Ireland.

My Department is currently considering consultation responses and is working with colleagues in the Public Health Agency and Child Health to define the requirements that will underpin this regional pathway and inform future commissioning.

The Regional Acquired Brain Injury Unit in Belfast is an inpatient facility, accepting individuals aged 16 years and over. The Unit delivers a multidisciplinary rehabilitation model, comprising specialised Consultants, Nursing staff, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech & Language Therapists and Dietitians.

Family involvement is encouraged as part of the rehabilitation process. Patients also have access to an activity coordinator, providing therapeutic and recreational activities—such as art therapy, music and games—intended to promote wellbeing, enhance social interaction, support confidence-building, and contribute to overall quality of life.

My Department also funds a regional contract with the Child Brain Injury Trust for Family information/support for children with ABI and a Music therapy contract to support children with disabilities to have access to activity programs.

Within Belfast Health and Social Care Trust children with neurological conditions may be referred for Physiotherapy assessment and required treatment by their GP, by a Paediatrician or by a specialty Paediatric Consultant. The Paediatric Physiotherapy Teams operate within the Regional Integrated Elective Access Protocol (IEAP) Framework.

The Paediatric Community Physiotherapy Team aim to see Urgent referrals within 2 weeks and Routine referrals within 13 weeks. Current waiting times for this team are largely within these timescales.

The Neurosciences Physiotherapy Team at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children (RBHSC) receive referrals for physiotherapy for inpatients with neurological conditions from Paediatric Consultants within RBHSC and from Physiotherapy colleagues in centres outside of Northern Ireland where there has been specialty input at another centre and follow up care is required at RBHSC. Patients are seen and assessed within 24 – 48 hours of referral as inpatients.

The Neurosciences Physiotherapy team at RBHSC also accept referrals for outpatient assessment/treatment and apply the same IEAP framework as the Community Paediatric team:

Urgent referrals are seen within 2 weeks

Routine referrals are seen within 13 weeks.

Current waiting times for this team are within these timescales. Onward referral may be required to local Physiotherapy teams to continue Physiotherapy intervention if required at the point of discharge. This may be to the BHSCT Community Physiotherapy Team or to their local Community Physiotherapy team if the individual resides outside of Belfast Trust Area.