South Down MLA Chris Hazzard has condemned Health Minister Jim Wells’ approach to managing the Health budget as Mr Hazzard claims “the South Down area faces further cuts to frontline services at the Downe Hospital and in the community.”
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Chris Hazzard MLA is deeply concerned about health cuts and their imapct in South Down.[/caption]
As news broke that the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust (SEHSCT) are to implement serious cuts – including the closure of nine beds at the Downe Hospital – it also became clear that political and trade union representatives were being kept in the dark until after the media were briefed.
Mr Hazzard said: “Yet again we are witnessing the slicing of services from the Downe to the benefit of the Ulster Hospital in Belfast. Yet again the people of South Down are being told to stomach bed closures whilst the Ulster Hospital escapes unscathed – no doubt enhanced in months to come.
“We’ve also learnt that Domiciliary Care is to be cut by a third – this is a serious blow to frontline care in our community.”
Mr Hazzard said that whilst he understood that the Health Department must look to make savings in the months ahead, they need to do more to protect beds, nursing and elective care.
“In his last act as Minister, Edwin Poots admitted to the Health Committee that there was considerable waste in the health system – yet his successor seems to have decided not to target this waste.
“We know that more than £60million is being gifted to the private sector for elective care waiting lists – surely this is an area where savings could be made, surely the SEHSCT could make better use of these funds in-house?
“We know that a scandalous amount of money – more than £30million – has been paid out in bonuses to senior staff within the Health system in recent years. Surely this is an area where the Minister could explore the potential for savings?
“Instead we have our local South Down MLA, Minister Jim Wells, who is not prepared to stand-up for local frontline services. It is a disgrace.”
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Sinn Féin Calls For Equality Impact Assessment
Sinn Féin Councillor Naomi Bailie has criticised the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust announcement of severe cut backs in local health care provision.
Councillor Bailie who attended a protest on Friday to show her solidarity with Trust workers and the wider community, said that Health Minister Jim Wells should do more to ensure that services at the Downe Hospital are protected.
“Minister Wells is only in his role a matter of weeks and already we have this attack on the Downe Hospital. It’s deeply disappointing that the Trust have chosen to use this as an opportunity to force through centralisation via the back door.
“These proposals target front line services and will impact upon the most vulnerable people in our community.
“Coronary Care is a vital unit for this area. It must not be the target in the Trust’s quest to save money. The closure of this ward will see lives lost across Down as families and patients are forced to make the journey to Belfast to avail of cardiac services.
“I call on the Minister to carry out an Equality Impact Assessment on the proposals before him. Any equality screening of these proposals will help to highlight the devastating consequences they will have on the community here in Down.
“I ask the Minister to consult with the Trust… to ask of them, and to explain to us, why are we constantly seeing attacks at the Downe Hospital?”
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