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Armagh Banbridge Health Lurgan Newry Politics Portadown South Armagh South Down

Southern Trust Silent on Domiciliary Care Pay Rise

The Southern Trust has come under fire after it was revealed that £23 million from the Department of Health would be used to help the social care sector. This investment has now been used by Independent care companies to increase their pay bands for Care Assistants. A move welcomed during these difficult times. However despite […]

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Armagh Banbridge Community Health Lurgan Newry Portadown South Armagh South Down

Ann’s Homecare Increases Domiciliary Care Pay

Independent domiciliary care company Ann’s Homecare has now increased its pay from £10.30 p/h to £13p/h following the £23 million investment from the Department of Health and a recent meeting with the Health Minister Robin Swann. Speaking on their social media Ann’s Homecare said: “Following the announcement of our new rates (£10.30 – £13) and […]

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Health

New Covid Variant Discovered

Evidence of a new variant of the COVID-19 virus has emerged in recent days. This variant – B.1.1.529 – has been identified in South Africa as well as some other countries with travel links to South Africa. Although there is limited evidence of the impact of the new variant, there are concerns that it has a […]

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Health

Vaccine Programme Extends to 12 – 17 Year Olds

Reminder: A special weekend of vaccination clinics for young people takes place this Saturday and Sunday. The clinics will be offering first doses, as well as second doses for 16 and 17 year olds who are eligible. The locations are listed below. For those that are appointment only, bookings can be made at: https://covid-19.hscni.net/get-vaccinated/ Those aged […]

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Health South Down

McGrath Welcomes Progress on Payments to Independent Health Staff 

SDLP Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath has welcomed progress on the Covid-19 recognition payment to independent health care staff. Speaking in the Assembly this week Health Minister Robin Swann confirmed over £1m had been paid out so far. However, Mr McGrath said there were still thousands of staff waiting to receive their payment and called on […]

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Health Politics

NHS Crisis, “A Long Project” – Workers Party

Every newspaper headline, news bulletin and radio phone-in programme in recent weeks has declared that the NHS is in meltdown: that the system is broken and is on the verge of collapse. What is seldom examined is exactly what the crisis is, how it has been caused and why it will continue under the present […]

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Health Lurgan Politics

“Sinn Féin Bill Will Make Hospital Parking Free For All” – O’Dowd

Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd has said hospital parking should be free for all and encouraged people to get behind a Sinn FéinAssembly Bill to scrap parking fees at hospitals. The Upper Bann MLA said: “Hospital car-parking must be free and accessible to all. “Sinn Féin’s Assembly Bill will scrap hospital parking charges and make it free for health workers, patients and […]

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Health Politics

Health Minister Unable to Provide Three IVF Cycles Due to Funding Constraints

Health Minister Robin Swann marked National Fertility Awareness Week by thanking staff at the Regional Fertility Centre (RFC) in Belfast for their work to restore and rebuild services impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Minister also heard about ongoing plans to implement the Executive’s New Decade, New Approach commitment to providing up to three publicly-funded cycles of […]

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Health Politics

Covid Passes Allow People With Covid into Hospitality, They Don’t Work! – Aontu

Aontú Representative for East Derry, Gemma Brolly, has condemned the Stormont Executive’s introduction of COVID Vaccine Passports as dangerous, discriminatory and poorly thought out. “For weeks now, we have had growing numbers of COVID cases and increasing pressure on hospitals and medical services. Now, in the middle of a pandemic, and with the ‘flu season’ […]

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Health Lurgan Politics

Kelly Welcomes Progress on Payments to Independent Health Staff

SDLP Upper Bann MLA Dolores Kelly has welcomed progress on the Covid-19 recognition payment to independent health care staff.   Speaking in the Assembly this week Health Minister Robin Swann confirmed over £1m had been paid out so far.   However, Mrs Kelly said there were still thousands of staff waiting to receive their payment […]

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Health Politics

O’Dowd Welcomes Extension of Covid Booster

Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd has welcomed the extension of the COVID vaccine booster programme to people 40 to 49. The Upper Bann spokesperson said:  “I welcome the announcement that people aged 40 to 49 will now be able to get a COVID booster vaccine.   “The booster vaccine is being administered by GP practices and […]

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Health

Phone First Service Extends Opening Hours

To mark their first birthday – the Southern Trust’s ‘Phone First’ service has extended its hours to 9pm, Monday to Friday.  The ‘Phone First’ approach aims to help those patients with urgent but not life threatening symptoms to get the most appropriate care as quickly as possible and avoid busy waiting rooms. Before attending the […]