To ask the Minister of Health, given that the purpose of IT projects such as encompass is to deliver reduced administration, to outline why it has not freed up budget for front-line service delivery in health and social care.

Digital transformation projects such as encompass are strategic investments. While encompass is now implemented across Northern Ireland, a number of Trusts are still in the post-go-live phase, focusing on embedding the system and ensuring operational stability. Given the scale of transformation, it is expected that cost savings and service improvements emerge as the changes are embedded.

Positive outcomes for staff, patients and services users already being seen through encompass and other key digital systems include improved access to information, enhanced clinical decision making and streamlined workflows. Work is continuing to identify, baseline and realise benefits across projects and the wider HSCNI service.

All HSC IT enabled projects and programmes are committed to ongoing monitoring and evaluation to ensure they deliver value for money and support reinvestment into front-line services across HSCNI.