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Health

Swann to Implement 3% Pay Rise for HSC Staff

All Agenda for Change staff working in Health and Social Care will receive the 3% award which was recommended by the NHS Pay Review Body.  The award will see HSC pay points increase by 3% and will be backdated to 1 April 2021. This award represents an estimated increase of approximately £88.24million on the Agenda for […]

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Health

£23 Million Social Care Investment ONLY for Private Care Sector NOT NHS!

Recently Health Minister Robin Swann announced a £23 million investment for social care to help with domiciliary care pay with the aim of creating well paid, attractive jobs. In theory the Department of Health are hoping this will lead to mass recruitment and more discharges from hospitals, eventually easing the pressure on our strained NHS. […]

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Health

Minister Underlines Importance of Vaccine After Discovery of New Variant

Please keep following the basic steps that help prevent variants of COVID-19 spreading. That’s the appeal to the public from Health Minister Robin Swann, as public health measures are activated in response to the Omicron variant’s emergence. Mr Swann also underlined the continuing importance of vaccination in the battle against all strains of the virus. […]

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Health

Minister Unveils Support Package for Care Sector

By Kevin McAteer Health Minister Robin Swann has announced a support package of up to £23million for domiciliary care and the wider social care sector. The funding will enable employers to offer improved rates of pay and attract more staff into the domiciliary care and care home workforces. An escalating workforce shortfall in domiciliary care […]

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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 […]