Health Minister praises award-winning Autism Early Intervention Team on World AHP Day

L-R: Siobhan Martin, Clare Wilson, Charlene McLaughlin, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, Eileen Dolan, Dr Mary McDaid, Sarah McElholm and Margaret Ferris

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has paid tribute to clinicians working within the Western Health and Social Care Trust’s specialist Autism Early Intervention Service (EIS) as part of World Allied Health Professionals (AHP) Day celebrations.

World AHP Day is an annual event dedicated to recognising the vital contributions of Allied Health Professionals across health and social care settings.

The Minister met the EIS team during a visit to Fermanagh on Tuesday (October 14) following their success at the Advancing Healthcare Awards UK earlier this year, where they received the Northern Ireland Government’s award for clinical impact to address healthcare inequalities.

The EIS, established in 2021, supports children, young people and families once characteristics of Autism have been identified. The innovative team — which includes speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and psychology professionals — works with over 400 families each month, helping them navigate the often challenging period from referral to assessment.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt 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.”

During his visit to Fermanagh House, Mr Nesbitt met with members of the EIS team, service users and families who have benefited from the service’s neuro-affirming approach, which focuses on seeing beyond labels and tailoring support to individual needs.

The EIS team’s model has been widely praised for its innovation and positive impact, reducing healthcare inequalities by bridging the gap between referral and assessment.

Marking World AHP Day, Mr Nesbitt also expressed his appreciation for AHPs across Northern Ireland:

“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, also praised the contribution of AHPs:

“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.

“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, added:

“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.”

The Western Trust’s EIS continues to lead the way in innovative, family-centred Autism care — a model that has earned recognition at national level for its measurable impact on healthcare equality and patient experience.