SDLP Assembly Member for Newry and Armagh Justin McNulty MLA has said that the crisis in waiting lists in Northern Ireland demands the immediate attention of political leaders.
Speaking following the publication of the Royal College of Surgeons’ 10 Step Action Plan for surgical recovery Mr McNulty said; ‘I welcome the publication of this report and its recommendations. It underlines the serious crisis that our Health Service faces and the particular pressure on people who have been suffering in pain and in angst on waiting lists for years.
‘We now have a suite of reports that outline the scale of the reform needed to address spiralling waiting lists and deliver fist class care to people before they die waiting for treatment. The issues facing the health service are systemic and they can only be tackled with strong political will. The only thing keeping the system going right now is the dedication of our front line staff.’
‘But this issue goes way beyond surgery waiting lists, for example over 5,100 children here waiting on an Autism Assessment, in the Southern Trust area we have over 2,600 people on a waiting list for mental health services or over 250,000 waiting for surgical appointments. This is the real state of our health service and it is deeply worrying.’
“The SDLP and I have consistently raised this issue in the Assembly and with the Ministers of Health and Finance.
“Unfortunately, the Budget presented by Sinn Fein Minister Conor Murphy this week does not set out a plan to deal with the multiple crises facing our public services. This is a missed opportunity and particularly disappointing that given the critical state of the health service that the Finance Minister has not made addressing waiting lists a priority. Enough is enough. Sinn Fein need to step up.”
ENDS
CLANRYE NEWS 