Northern Ireland All Party Group Inquiry
The All Party Group (APG) on Muscular Dystrophy in the Northern Ireland Assembly is conducting an Inquiry into service provision for people with muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions across Northern Ireland.
The APG is chaired by Conall McDevitt MLA and is made up of a cross party group of Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). MLAs will ensure that the needs of people living with muscular dystrophy are highlighted in the Northern Ireland Assembly and press for improvements to essential services for families across Northern Ireland.
The Inquiry will focus on a variety of issues which include:
• Experiences and views of patients, families and carers on the strengths and weaknesses of current services;
• Health professionals' perspectives on the gaps in specialist neuromuscular care;
• Importance of care coordinators and social workers;
• Commissioning, planning and delivering specialist services in Northern Ireland for people with muscle disease.
The Inquiry wants to hear the views of those people in Northern Ireland who are affected by muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions and those clinicians and health professionals who have a direct interest in the provision of services for this group of patients. We would also like to hear from those people who are responsible for the commissioning of these services and for workforce planning in the NHS.
Find out more about how to get involved in the Inquiry in the Call for Evidence and Written Evidence Form documents.
Conall McDevitt commented:
I am looking forward to leading this new group as we undertake a thorough inquiry into service provision on behalf of people with muscle-wasting diseases across Northern Ireland. We have heard alarming experiences of accessing services at our launch meeting and this All Party Group is determined to establish the improvements which are required to increase the quality of care for these vulnerable families.
The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is providing all the organisational support for the All Party Group. We look forward to working with families from across Northern Ireland and MLAs as we undertake this groundbreaking inquiry to establish the urgently required service improvements for people living with muscle disease.
The members of the new All Party Group, in conducting the inquiry, will ensure that the needs of people living with muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions are highlighted in the Northern Ireland Assembly and will press for improvements to essential specialist care and support for families across Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland Executive Health Minister, Edwin Poots MLA, addressed the All Party Group following the discussion at the All Party Group's launch meeting and will receive the All Party Group's report when it is launched next year. He said:
I welcome the opportunity to be here and to lend my support to the new All Party Group, which I hope will be a great advocate at the Assembly on behalf of those with Muscular Dystrophy. I look forward to hearing more about the All Party Group's future agenda and the actions they wish to take forward.
The Inquiry so far...
5 December session
Groundbreaking new Inquiry launched in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland All Party Group Inquiry minutes - 5th December session
7 February session
Patients and families take centre stage at Northern Ireland Assembly Inquiry
Northern Ireland All Party Group Inquiry minutes - 7th February session
The minutes from these evidence sessions are provisional and subject to further editing.
For more information about the All Party Group on Muscular Dystrophy in the Northern Ireland Assembly, please get in touch:
020 7803 4839
j.kingsley@muscular-dystrophy.org
CampaignsMD Blog
Twitter: CampaignsMD
