To ask the Minister of Health to detail (i) the number of children currently waiting for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy procedures; and (ii) what the average waiting time is for (a) urgent; and (b) routine cases.

Significant work has been carried out by my officials and staff within the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children (RBHSC) to target the waiting times for PEG Tube surgery and to successfully reduce the time that patients are waiting for this very important procedure.

As of the 3rd October 2025, RBHSC have advised there are 12 patients actively waiting for surgery.

Of the 12 patients waiting,

- 6 children are dated for surgery in October with 1 child classified as urgent;

- 2 children are dated for November;

- 4 children on the waiting list currently are not dated. These children have all been added to the waiting list in the later part of September.

Of the 12 children actively waiting the average waiting time for:

(a)1 child (classified as urgent) is under 1 month; and;

(b) 11 children (classified as routine) are waiting on average 3 months.

13 children are currently suspended. One of these children is waiting for an MDT assessment.

Whilst the above developments are to be welcomed my officials will continue to work with staff at the BHSCT in order to ensure that children who require this procedure can access the care they need in as quick a time as clinically possible.