Farmers For Action back the Downe A&E 24/7 campaign launched by the Down Community Health Committee
Farmers For Action’s Steering Committee (FFA) have said that MLA’s in Northern Ireland must collectively up their performance on huge issues affecting rural Northern Ireland such as local Doqwne A&E 24/7 provision.
On a visit to Downpatrick to meet representatives from the Down Community Health Committee, FFA representatives William Taylor and Ronnie Murphy explained their discontent with the political establishment not delivering for rural areas.
William Taylor speaking for the FFA said that the list of deficiencies in rural areas is “damning” and cited examples of “4 rural schools+ have also closed their doors for good this June, along with similar numbers in recent years, against protests and consultations by parents, Boards of Governors, FFA, rural communities and some MLA’s.
“However there has been no positive debates in Stormont in support of keeping rural schools open leaving the Education Authority and Ministers incompetence needing to be addressed by MLA’s immediately!
“This situation is especially damning when Richard Pengelly CEO of EA now states he is short of 164 spaces for special needs children across Northern Ireland, when if commonsense had prevailed over the last five years+ there would have been approximately 30 rural schools+ still operating which would have automatically lowered this figure.
“Again, the waste of top EA civil servants and their quangos not delivering, should be the subject of huge debate by Stormont’s MLA’s. And similarly, the health system needs to go under the microscope for a close examination.
“Photographed above is indeed a rare but welcome occasion when a Baroness, a South Down MLA and a local Downpatrick councillor stand shoulder to shoulder with rural health campaigners taking a stand on a rural hospital issue.
“in this case Colin McGrath MLA and supported by Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick along Cllr Conor Galbraith with other campaigners including FFA supporting the push for 24/7 A&E to be re-instated at Downshire Hospital.
“Rural communities and farmers have paid their taxes and deserve better than an OOH Unit or Urgent Care Centre.
William Taylor added: “it has got to be noted that there are a small number of MLA’s and MP’s doing their best on rural affairs but they are being drowned out by the vast majority of non-performing MLA’s.
“Concerns for rural hospitals across Northern Ireland is growing by the day with NI’s six Trusts and Department of Health continuing to shut down services available at rural hospitals.
“This is now costing lives with a recent damning statement by a top NI consultant that ‘there aren’t even enough toilets in A&E’s, alongside totally unacceptable waiting times’ making it an impossible situation for staff to work in, again costing lives!
“With reference to NI Hospitals, the FFA are calling for the immediate dismissal of four Northern Ireland Trusts which would save £80 million plus inflation annually, thereby, funding the reinstatement and enhancing of services at rural hospitals and properly staffing them.
“Non-delivery of strong debates by our elected MLA’s not being had in Stormont to properly address the damning situation in Northern Ireland’s hospitals, driven by the absolute waste of money by all 6 Trusts in the cost of running them and their incompetent delivery is unforgiveable!
“Northern Ireland’s rural roads are now an absolute disgrace and costing accidents in far too many situations, eg stop signs not having the hedges and grass kept trimmed at road ends, endless potholes and rough roads needing foundations repaired and completely resurfaced.
“In on all these cases of neglect, the FFA are calling for the heads of top non-performing infrastructure civil servants in management in excessive numbers to be trimmed immediately across NI.
“The amount of money saved plus claims from Government for injuries and damage of vehicles would be a huge help in keeping Northern Ireland’s rural roads in shape.
“Yet again, non-performing MLA’s in Stormont delivering non -erforming debates are to blame!
William Taylor added: “Family farmers in rural Northern Ireland are literally being blamed for everything from climate change to bovine TB, yet expected to put food on our table!
“Farmers For Action are calling for the vast majority of MLA’s to wake up and smell the coffee and stop wasting millions and millions of taxpayers money by not tackling bTB.
“The common thread is always the majority of MLA’s inaction via solution delivering debates in Stormont to immediately sanction by new law if necessary.
“The cull of TB infected badgers across Northern Ireland as the proven solution currently to cutting the cost of bTB annually of £60 million +.
“On the climate change front family farmers across Northern Ireland are already doing their bit and can do more but have their hands tied behind their backs by Government depleting support money by the day and yet again the majority of MLA’s refusing to take forward the Northern Ireland Farm Welfare Bill to date.
“This Bill would deliver for Northern Ireland’s farmers the cost of production plus a margin inflation link at the farm gate for their produce. This would deliver for Northern Ireland 25,000 jobs plus three times this down the line.
“It would create prosperity in Northern Ireland but instead Stormont seems hell bent on stagnation, both in relation to the economy and Northern Ireland Water, while farmers are doing their bit for Lough Neagh.
“To conclude, everyone should be concerned about rural Northern Ireland especially in Stormont where even the Speaker has had to point out to MLA’s the lack of proper debate on topics in general – who could disagree!”
The FFA seems at the core of the problems in rural areas such as education and roads infrastructure, an Assembly that is shirking away from addressing the core issues of rural disparities, but recognises the small band of MLAs who are pressing for support to rural areas.
Farmers For Action therefore back the Down Community Health Committee in their fight for equitable rural health and a Downe Hospital with a 24/7 A&E.
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