Waiting list plea from surgeons divides Stormont parties

On Thursday The Royal College of Surgeons called on the NI Executive to convene an urgent health summit on waiting lists - with almost 350,000 people waiting for a first appointment with a consultant.

On 4 June Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said party leaders had “agreed to a summit” on the issue with then DUP leader Edwin expecting it to take place “within weeks”.

Yesterday the News Letter asked all five Executive parties to explain why the summit promised almost three months ago has apparently not happened.

DUP spokesman Jonathan Buckley said ministers met on 26 July to discuss the issues - however he did not claim it was a genuine summit. The Executive published a press statement on that date saying it had “received an update” from the Department of Health and “discussed plans”. However it is understood the ministers refused to fund the plans - something not mentioned in the statement.

Yesterday Mr Buckley placed the onus for progress on the Health Minister, saying it is now “essential that the Department of Health brings forward clear and strategic requests for support”.

The UUP - which currently holds the health portfolio - flatly rejected the call for a summit, saying its Health Minister Robin Swann set out “firm and detailed time-bound proposals” in June and that there had already been too many reports and too much talking. The UUP added that the other parties will soon be “tested” on whether they are “actually prepared to see the necessary investment through”.

SDLP Health spokesperson Cara Hunter backed a summit, so long as it is not “another talking shop” but added that Sinn Féin Finance Minister Conor Murphy “needs to stop dithering and commit the funding”. Alliance health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw was also sceptical about a summit. “In broad terms, the minister knows what is required on waiting lists - implementing Bengoa,” she said, of the 2016 report commissioned by the Executive itself.

Sinn Fein offered no comment.

MORE NEWS:

UFU: Shortage of migrant labour may hit Christmas in Northern Ireland

Former top PSNI officer rejects watchdog proposal to decriminalise paramilitaries

Calls to NI charity treble as Afghanistan veterans retraumatised

West Balkan crime gangs ‘emerging as top dogs in NI’ says former head of PSNI Organised Crime Branch

NI’s annual drugs death rate worse than most years of Troubles, says former head of PSNI Organised Crime Branch

Eastern European cyber gangs being used to troll Arlene Foster and Stephen Nolan, warns expert

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Ben Lowry

Acting Editor