To ask the Minister of Health whether there is a regional policy and procedure for the repatriation of patients to another Health and Social Care Trust.

The HSC Protocol for the repatriation of patients between Trusts was updated in August 2024 to support the safe and timely repatriation of patients to their Trust of Residence following an inpatient episode of care in another Trust. This includes hospital to hospital repatriations and hospital to community repatriations following emergency or elective care admissions. It does not replace existing repatriation arrangements for pathways for patients receiving treatment in critical care, children’s services or mental health settings, or for patients requiring repatriation from outside of Northern Ireland.

The protocol provides a clear standardised process that enables the coordination of patient flow between Trusts, with the aim for repatriation to be completed within 12 hours of medical acceptance of the receiving hospital. This target is for conditions where there is no recognised standard for specialist repatriation.