IHRD-85 Response Accepted AI-assessed

Deputy CMO for Children's Healthcare

Recommendation

The Department should appoint a Deputy Chief Medical Officer with specific responsibility for children's healthcare.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
According to the Department of Health NI (2026-02-06), the Department of Health NI accepted this recommendation in March 2018, stating that considerations for the role of a Deputy Chief Medical Officer for children's healthcare were ongoing. According to the Department of Health NI (2026-02-06), as of February 2026, eight years after acceptance, this role has not been created and remains under consideration within the Department of Health NI restructuring.
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-2.5-flash on 19 Mar 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.gov.uk, www.health-ni.gov.uk, www.legislation.gov.uk, hansard.parliament.uk
Jurisdiction
Northern Ireland
Response
Accepted
Accepted Department of Health NI
01 Mar 2018

Role considerations ongoing within Department of Health NI restructuring.

Read Full Response
Published Evidence

Published assessments of implementation progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Check the source type badge to see whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.

Insufficient Progress
06 Feb 2026
Department of Health NI Other

No Deputy CMO for children's healthcare appointed. The role remains under consideration within DoH NI restructuring after 8 years.

View detailed findings

Recommendation 85 called for a Deputy Chief Medical Officer with specific responsibility for children's healthcare. As of February 2026, this role has not been created. It remains under consideration within Department of Health NI restructuring.

IHRD Implementation Programme View Source
Source
Inquiry Hyponatraemia Inquiry
Report Report of the Inquiry into Hyponatraemia-related Deaths 31 Jan 2018
View Source
Responsible Bodies
Department of Health NI Primary
Themes & Tags
Children's health staff shortages Underinvestment in Children's Social Care Leadership Paediatrics Department
Recommendation age 8.1 yrs
Last formal update 783 days ago