To ask the Minister of Health, pursuant to AQW 23709/22-27, whether the other Health and Social Care Trusts will be encouraged to introduce Phagenyx as an evidenced-based treatment offering cost saving and life enhancing outcomes for patients.

As previously advised, phagenyx is offered as a treatment across a number of services at Belfast Trust including the Neurosurgery and Stroke services. The treatment is also available at South Eastern Trust, specifically within the Stroke Unit, as a treatment modality for dysphagia. The remaining Trusts have indicated that the treatment is not currently available.

The Department notes that NICE Interventional Procedure Guidance 781 advises that pharyngeal electrical stimulation for neurogenic dysphagia can be used for people with neurogenic dysphagia who have a tracheostomy after stroke while more evidence is generated. It can only be used with special arrangements for clinical governance, consent, and audit or research.

While my Department notes the NICE guidance above, there is no formal requirement for Trusts to adopt treatments which are included within this NICE programme. Therefore treatment choice will remain the responsibility of the treating clinician for each individual.