To ask the Minister of Health to detail any steps his Department is taking to provide vegan meals to users of (i) adult day centres; (ii) learning disability centres; and (iii) children’s day centres, broken down by Health and Social Care Trust.

Health and Social Care Trusts are responsible for the provision of Health and Social Care Services. Health and Social Care Trusts provided the following response as noted below:

South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (SEHSCT):

Adult Day Centres and Learning Disability Day Centres:

The vast majority of adults attending Adult and Learning Disability Day Centres are served cook freeze meals. These meals are procured from a contracted catering supplier with an extensive range of vegan options available on request. The Trust will review our method of promoting vegan options in these centres to promote availability.

Children’s Services

Children’s Services do not operate Day Centres for Children, therefore the AQW does not apply to this Directorate.

Southern Health and Social Care Trust (SHSCT):

Adult Day Centres and Learning Disability Day Centres:

As part of the pre-admission assessment to a Day Care placement, a Day Care representative will meet with the Service User and their Carer and one of the areas discussed is dietary needs and requirements. Food preferences including dietary and specialist diet requirements will be discussed and recorded in the Service Users Care Plan and staff in the Day Centre will be informed. The centre will then order and serve meals in keeping with the Service User’s preferences, dietary or specialist requirements.

Children’s Services

Children’s Services do not operate Day Centres for Children, therefore the AQW does not apply to this Directorate.

Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT):

Every effort is made to provide Service Users with specific meal choices. The Western Trust has had no requests for vegan meals. However, in respect of any new Service User with any special dietary requirements, commencing attendance at a Day Centre (either adult, learning disability or children), the Centre Manager would contact support services and they would provide a number of options to meet their assessed needs.

Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT):

The Northern Trust caters for those who require special dietary requirements, including individuals who request vegan meals. Trust Catering Services provide vegan meal options that are prepared in accordance with dietary guidelines to ensure patient safety and nutritional adequacy. All special diets are coordinated in collaboration with Trust dietetic and catering teams to meet needs and preferences wherever possible.

In the NHSCT we currently have 13 Adult Centres, 10 Day Centres, 8 Children facilities including residential homes and supported living units.

Catering departments in these facilities offer a range of vegetarian options for the Services Users and will provide a variety of vegan options as requested.

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT)

The Belfast Trust currently provide vegan meals to users of (i) adult day centres; (ii) learning disability centres; and (iii) children’s day centres. A 3 weekly Vegan menu shows options available each day.