To ask the Minister of Health whether he intends to establish a dedicated young patients fund for Northern Ireland to assist families in covering the costs of having a child in hospital.

I recognise that the unexpected costs for patients undergoing hospital treatment can add additional financial pressure at an already difficult time. There are existing schemes in place to help support individuals and their dependants in Northern Ireland who need access to healthcare.

The Help with Healthcare Costs Scheme provides individuals and their dependants, primarily on low incomes, with financial help towards the cost of dental treatment, eyesight tests, glasses or contact lens, and travel costs for health and social care treatment on referral by a doctor or dentist. The eligibility criteria are set out in legislation and certain benefits automatically passport on to the scheme.

In the absence of an agreed multi-year budget for health and a significant projected overspend, such a scheme would not be currently affordable and would have to be considered in the future alongside the many other competing funding demands across the Health and Social Care system.