Health Minister Robin Swann is exploring an all-island network model to deliver paediatric pathology services, the Assembly has heard.

Minister Swann told Sinn Fein MLA for the area Colm Gildernew that this Department has held a number of discussions with colleagues in the Republic of Ireland but “due to capacity constraints within the pathology service in the ROI, it would not be possible for them to provide a service for Northern Ireland in the short term”.

“The development of a potential all-island paediatric pathology service will therefore have to be a longer-term solution,” he told the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA.

Mr. Gildernew, who is also chairman of the health committee, had asked Minister Swann to outline what contact his Department has had with the Department of Health in Dublin on the provision of local paediatric pathology services, instead of the current arrangements of travelling to England.

“My Department is continuing to discuss this matter with counterparts in ROI to establish the feasibility of an all island service. The feasibility assessment would include: the recruitment and training of paediatric pathologists; the location(s) for the delivery of the service; and, the governance, funding and regulation of such an all-island service across two separate jurisdictions,” he said.

Minister Swann said his Department’s priority is to ensure that bereaved parents receive pathology reports “as quickly as possible”.

“I am reassured that, from the initial feedback received, parents have felt supported by the interim service provided by Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool,” he said.