To ask the Minister of Health for an update on the delegated nursing task under direct payment review.

My Department commissioned the Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nursing and Midwifery (NIPEC) to lead a review focusing on the delegation of healthcare interventions to social care practitioners employed by Trusts and third-party care providers and PAs employed through direct payments. The purpose of this work is to develop recommendations that enable people to live as independently as possible in their own homes. This work is guided by the principle of delivering the right care, in the right place, at the right time, by the right person - supported by timely, safe, and effective delegation of healthcare interventions. While such arrangements may in some cases be linked to direct payment packages, the NIPEC led work is concerned with ensuring safe delegation, appropriate governance and timely clinical support, rather than any review of direct payments.

Given the complexity of the issues involved, additional time has been necessary to ensure the review is robust and fully informed. A draft of the final report has been received by the Department and will be subject to sign off by the Delegation of Healthcare Interventions Oversight Group in the coming weeks before being submitted for my consideration.