The Health Minister has marked World AHP Day by paying tribute to
clinicians working within a specialist Autism Early Intervention
Service who recently won an award.
World AHP (Allied Health Professionals) Day is an annual event
held to recognise and celebrate the vital contributions of AHPs
in our communities.
The Minister met the Western Health & Social Care Trust's
Children & Young People's Early Intervention Service (EIS)
team during a visit to Fermanagh, after their win at the
Advancing Healthcare Awards UK earlier this year. The team won
the Northern Ireland Government's award for clinical impact to
address healthcare inequalities.
The EIS aims to provide support, intervention and assessment for
children, young people and their families once presenting
characteristics of Autism have been identified.
Health Minister said: “Here we have
Allied Health Professionals, including speech and language
therapists and occupational therapists, working with psychology
professionals collectively to share expertise and provide support
to children, young people and their families in navigating what
can otherwise be a very stressful time.
“I would like to pay tribute to the entire EIS team in
the Western Trust and warmly congratulate you all on your
much-deserved win at the awards ceremony in London.”
The EIS, established in 2021, is a small team of clinicians
working alongside families, who have brought new ways of working
with huge benefits for those awaiting Autism assessment.
The team's innovative model aims to reduce healthcare
inequalities by bridging the gap from referral to assessment.
During his visit to Fermanagh House, the Minister met members of
the team who briefed him on their work, as well as service users
and their families.
The Minister added: “On this World AHP Day, I also want
to express my thanks to our Allied Health Professional colleagues
right across Northern Ireland. Your expertise, dedication and
commitment are truly valued.
“AHPs, and those in AHP assistant roles, have a key role
to play as we move forward rebuilding and restructuring the
health and social care system. Thank you for everything that you
do.”
Professor Michelle Tennyson, Department of Health Chief Allied
Health Professions Officer, said: “Today, I am proud to celebrate
Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) Day across Northern Ireland,
recognising the vital contributions of our approximately 5,200
AHPs working across our health and social care system.
“All 14 of our professions play a crucial role in improving
lives, promoting independence, and delivering high-quality care
in hospitals, prisons, schools, communities, and homes.
“The theme for AHPs' Day 2025 is the 3 shifts: hospital to
community; treatment to prevention; and analogue to digital. This
highlights areas where we as allied health professions excel.
AHPs continue to innovate, lead, and adapt to meet the evolving
needs of our population and we are well placed to lead in each of
these 3 shifts.
“I would also like to extend my congratulations to the EIS team
in the Western Trust for the impactful work that you do.”
Donna Keenan, Western Trust Executive Director of Nursing,
Midwifery & AHP Services, said: “As we celebrate the vital
work that the EIS team do every day, we also acknowledge and
celebrate the care and treatment that all our AHP
colleagues deliver.
“They are at the heart of transforming care across our Trust.
Staff are embracing moving care from hospital to community,
treatment to prevention and analogue to digital. Thank you all
for your unwavering commitment to delivering outstanding
individual person centred care.”
Notes to editors:
- WHSCT's EIS team won the Northern Ireland Government's award
for clinical impact to address healthcare inequalities with their
nomination for ‘Doing Things Differently – Using a
neuro-affirming approach to see beyond the label'. Read more
about the award win here: https://westerntrust.hscni.net/trusts-children-and-young-peoples-autism-early-intervention-service-celebrating-success-in-the-uk-advancing-healthcare-awards-2025/
- The EIS provides support to more than 400 families each
month. The team spends several months with families awaiting an
autism assessment to find out what matters to them on their
autism journey and works to carefully co-design timely specialist
interventions. This support is provided throughout the waiting
period for assessment and the assessment outcome.
- Allied Health Professions (AHPs) are the second largest
clinical workforce in health and social care, with 14
professions. They are: Podiatry, Paramedics, Speech and Language
therapists, Dietitians, Orthoptists, Occupational Therapists,
Prosthetists, Art therapists, Drama therapists, Music therapists,
Physiotherapists, Diagnostic radiographers, Therapeutic
radiographers, Orthotics.
