South Down SDLP MLA Colin McGrath has spoken out following the £40million announcement of a cash injection for Health and Social Care in the North.
Mr McGrath said: “This announcement will mean that the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust will be able to remove the threat of cutting locum and agency staff which was expected to have a detrimental impact on the waiting times for operations.
“Many of the services at the Downe Hospital are delivered by locum and agency staff so the removal of this threat will secure these services, at least in the short term and this is to be welcomed. However, all of these announcements are simply sticking plasters. We still have no Executive to deliver a budget. Without such, we continue to be in limbo.
“The Health Trusts, like many Government Departments are already at breaking point. A Minister could help mitigate these cuts. A return of our devolved institutions can make a difference.
“Patients should not be paying the price of a “no deal” between the two main parties. We need Stormont returned and a budget passed to properly deliver for our people.”
