Colin McGrath MLA says all-island healthcare links must be explored
The SDLP’s Colin McGrath MLA, the party’s health spokesperson, has held a series of engagements in Dáil Éireann to explore what an all-island healthcare system would look like and how it could benefit people here.
Commenting, Colin McGrath said: “One of the arguments that is consistently put to nationalists when discussing the potential for a New Ireland is that of the NHS.
“The NHS has been a tremendous asset for all of us and has delivered high health outcomes for decades.
“However, we need to be realistic: the NHS has been consistently chipped away at by successive Tory governments and has been failed by Health Ministers in the North.
“I find it hard to believe that this is what Aneurin Bevan, the founder of the NHS, sought to champion.
“The NHS is not what it once was and the argument that we should remain part of the UK simply because of the NHS is one which I am finding is losing its lustre with many people.
“I recently met with healthcare experts in the North and they are very much aware of the impact the Sláintecare programme will have, particularly in relation to staffing here.”
Clon McGrath added: “Therefore, I held a series of engagements in Dáil Éireann with Senator Lorraine Clifford Lee of Fianna Fáil and Duncan Smith TD of the Irish Labour Party to discuss what all-island healthcare would look like.
“It is a very exciting opportunity for us.
“If we want to develop an economy of scale in relation to health then an all-island approach really is the best option to explore.
“Another point of consideration are those in our border communities, and we really need to address how we are serving their needs.
“The engagements today have been very positive and I look forward to future engagement with those across the sector in developing a healthcare policy that works for them, when they need it most.”
