To ask the Minister of Health to detail any engagement his Department has had with GP representative bodies regarding shared care arrangements, in the last 12 months.

The Regional Group on Specialist Medicines was established by my Department and has recommended that medicines suitable for shared care arrangements be designated to an advisory list, the Amber List.

The Amber List is an advisory list where it is considered by the Regional Group, that responsibility for prescribing may be transferred from secondary to primary care when shared care arrangements for the patient have been established between the specialist and GP. Such shared care arrangements will make recommendations on the respective clinical responsibilities of both parties. The Regional Group consider which amber medicines require a regional shared care guideline to be commissioned to cover arrangements across Northern Ireland.

There are a number of GP Local Medical Committee (LMC) representatives who are members of the Regional Group for Specialist Medicines. One of the roles of this group is to ratify the Shared Care Guidelines developed for the region.

The Regional Group for Specialist Medicines meets four times a year and the Group last met on 2 December 2025. Shared Care Guidelines for ratification are a standing item on the Agenda for every meeting of the Group.