Provision of Respite Care, a Priority for Assembly's Health Committee

TheAssembly’s Health Committee hosted an event earlier today (Tuesday, 11 March) in partnership with the National Autistic Society and the Children’s Law Centre on the provision of respite services here.

The Committee has recently identified this issue as a key priority and today’s event was an opportunity for Members to hear directly from the families featured in the recent BBC Spotlight documentary ‘I am Not Okay’.

Speaking after today’s event, the Committee for Health Chairperson, Philip McGuigan MLA said: “I know that I echo the thoughts of all Health Committee Members when I say that it was both an honour and a privilege to host this important event today.

“The recent Spotlight documentary ‘I am Not Okay’ amplified the harrowing and poignant testimonies of the families involved, but sadly, as we all know, their stories are just the tip of the iceberg. There are many more families still below the radar, facing similar struggles in accessing the respite care they so desperately need”. 

The Chairperson continued: “Back in October 2024, the Committee welcomed the Minister’s statement that his Department intended to earmark up to £2m funding for the rest of this financial year and an additional £13m a year to expand on the delivery of respite provision. However, as we have heard from the families today, there has been little evidence that this initial funding stream has delivered any tangible results. 

“We have invited Departmental officials to attend our meeting on Thursday (13 March) to outline what has been accomplished to date. We will be asking them to provide further information on the planning mechanisms in place to ensure that local Health Care Trusts are in a position to develop and implement the services necessary to significantly increase respite provision.

“We also intend to ask for assurances that respite services which were previously closed, have re-opened and will not again be repurposed for residential care. However, I want to make it very clear that the Department must ensure that this should not be to the detriment of residential care, which remains a crucial service and should continue to receive the necessary and specific funding it requires in order to sustain and expand”.

Fergal McFerran, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at the Children’s Law Centre said: “The systemic failings in the provision of respite services have been ongoing for years, often with devastating implications for children and families. We therefore welcome the time and attention that the Health Committee are giving to these issues and have been grateful for the opportunity to support their crucial scrutiny work. We share the Committee’s determination to ensure that the additional resource announced by the Minister last year is a catalyst for sustained improvements to make a tangible difference for every family in need of support.”

Shirelle Stewart, Director of the National Autistic Society Northern Ireland added: "Our experience over many years tells us that autistic children and young people with high support needs are being failed. The failure of Health Trusts to plan and commission appropriate services has led many families to be pushed to the brink as they try to fill the gaps of support while being denied access to short breaks because no places are available. If we are to bring an end to the cycle of crisis facing so many families it is clear that they must be supported to have their voices heard and we are encouraged that this is the approach being taken by the Health Committee.”

The Health Committee Chairperson, Philip McGuigan MLA concluded: “Today has been emotional for all of us and I would like to thank the families for coming here and sharing their inspirational stories with such passion, dignity and resolve. They have been a catalyst for action and for change.

“We as a committee have listened today and more importantly, we have heard. We will continue to centre respite care as a key Committee priority and will be calling on the Department to regularly update us on how its plan to increase this valuable and crucial service is being progressed and implemented”. 

Today’s event also included contributions from a range of *stakeholder organisations who joined in roundtable discussions regarding the provision of respite care.

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:

Sinead Murphy, Communications Officer

Northern Ireland Assembly

Mobile: 0789 9864 368 Email: Sinead.murphy@niassembly.gov.uk  

Notes to Editor:

Further information about the Health Committee, its Membership and its work can be found here: