To ask the Minister of Health to clarify his statement to the Assembly on 1 October 2024 that Community Transport could provide transport to hospital, given (i) those operators are not permitted to apply for contracted health transport services under their Section 10B permit; and (ii) the Department for Infrastructure Dial-a-Lift programme states the service may not be used for hospital transport outside the local area.

On launching the public consultation on the document - 'Hospitals — Creating a Network for Better Outcomes' – I acknowledged the importance of having in place suitable transport arrangements to underpin the hospital network and there is a section in the document dedicated to this. The potential need for additional travel for some is carefully balanced against the need to provide more timely access to care and a more efficient service, which is better able to meet the health needs of the entire population. Importantly, my comments were made regarding wider transport options that are, or could be, available for our communities.

The provision of transport is, of course, a cross-departmental issue and I have already been engaging with the Minister for Infrastructure and the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to discuss the full range of transport options available. We have instructed officials to recommission the Cross-Departmental Working Group to explore how to provide the best, value for money services. I understand that this Group will be meeting again in October and will provide further options for Ministerial consideration, in due course.

In the meantime, I would encourage all those with an interest in the hospital network document, including those with a perspective on transport provision, to respond to the consultation, which is now live.