To ask the Minister of Health to detail (i) the amount of funding provided to the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust to deliver an in-reach service for facial palsy patients; and (ii) how this funding has been spent.

On average only 3-5 patients are assessed as suitable for Facial Palsy surgery per annum in Northern Ireland. These referrals are managed through the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust as part of a Network arrangement with a specialist provider in Great Britain. This activity represents a very small component of the Facial Palsy care pathway as the majority of patients are managed locally across all Trusts and supported by colleagues from Primary Care.

In-reach services are provided as part of the total commissioning arrangement for Plastic surgery provided annually to the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust.