Ulster Unionist MLA: ‘The DUP statement on health represents the height of hypocrisy’

(An article about the statement can be read here: Robin Swann asked by DUP what preparations he made for winter pressures)

In the world of political distraction this call has to be in running for the top prize.

Coming from a party that refused to face up to the reality of medical and scientific advice presented to the Stormont executive, designed to protect not only the health of our citizens but also the welfare of all our hard-pressed NHS staff it represents the height of hypocrisy.

Minister Robin Swann is on record that he will not indulge in petty party politics around the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is sad that those who repeat the mantra that we are in this together seem happy to not only break ranks, and also to resort to party politics, but are prepared to twist facts to suit their distraction narrative.

Robin Swann has made more statements both written and oral to the assembly than most of the other members of the executive.

He has responded to more written questions from MLAs than any other minister. He has not shied away from any media probing and has regularly appeared before the health committee and been totally transparent in his presentation to that committee. He answers every question put to him with honesty and integrity.

He has also stated in the past that despite the fact he could go on solo runs, like so many ministers before him, he will only move forward with the collective support of the executive.

The DUP have four ministers who serve on the executive. I appreciate that in the past some have not always read the jot and tittle of documents in front of them but I would have thought that before putting out a statement calling on Minister Swann to reveal departmental plans for winter pressures it might have been better for their health spokesperson to read the already published Surge Planning Strategic Framework or to simply ask one of their ministers what the plans were.

All the information is fully available to the executive.

The DUP claim to have been raising the matter with the department since early summer. “We warned of a future wave and the need for planning. It seems such planning was not put in place.”

The action of DUP ministers last week would suggest they are not as concerned for the health of our citizens as perhaps other ministers are and are happy to face the current wave we are in with blinkers on and other agendas in play.

They say they have urged the minister to outline what additional resources are needed and have urged him to make use of mutual aid from the rest of the UK.

What is this mutual aid? They have referenced the army recently and the minister has pledged to call them in if required but has fully explained the limitation of military assistance.

The minister could use 1,000 and more highly trained nurses and more fully qualified and expert clinicians during this crisis. He has and is continuing to do what he can to ease this situation. Perhaps the DUP could tell us what their magic wand solution is?

What they could have done that would have helped the pressures on our hospitals and NHS staff was to have followed the medical and scientific advice and extended for two weeks the regulations in place to slow down the transmission of the virus.

However, they were unable to take this step that would have greatly assisted the NHS to cope with winter pressures but prefer to play petty political games and try to point the finger of blame at Robin Swann and his department.

The final paragraph of their statement says “The cancellation or postponement of treatments for life-limiting conditions such as heart disease or cancer to give preference so that Covid-19 patients can be treated is unjust, unequal, unacceptable and unsustainable.”

The minister has explained, with no pleasure, that this is the unfortunate reality. Should we sent home Covid-19 patients who present at hospital unable to draw a breath? These are not decisions that we should be asking clinicians to have to make.

The NHS is not turning anyone away with urgent medical demands, especially those that are immediately life threatening.

If the number of patients requiring treatment for Covid-19 could be reduced then these tough decisions may not have to be made. That situation lies in all our hands.

How do we achieve that? Follow all public health advice and expect the executive to take all steps to ensure that the medical and scientific advice is followed to the letter in an effort to stop the virus in its tracks.

The DUP had the opportunity to do that last week and failed miserably.

Rather than pointing the finger at others they might be better served to go and take a long hard look at themselves in a mirror.

Alan Chambers MLA, Ulster Unionist Party Health Spokesperson, Stormont

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