Former DUP MLA blasts politicians for deadlock over COVID-19 restrictions at Stormont - ‘We need to listen to the experts at the Coal Face, because if you don’t you are playing Russian Roulette with precious lives’

In a post on social media, the former politician and former veteran police officer who served throughout the Troubles said he had “thought long and hard about putting these thoughts on Facebook”.

He said he made his impassioned comments after “having spoken and been in the of company of senior medical people at the end of last week and since let me make the following observations,and as someone using the medical system currently at Belfast Cancer Centre”.

He wrote: “It is clear to see how much strain the system is under, although consultants continue to treat those of us currently in the system.

“The concerns of all in Cancer system indicate, folks not coming through, possibly frightened to present because of Covid”.

He added: “The other big issues are as I understand it are staff in hospitals having to isolate, or have caught Covid, that depletes staffing, meaning wards with to fewer staff.

“Wards in various hospitals having to close because of outbreaks of Covid, and we have already seen that across the province.

“Specialist staff being moved from crucial Cancer Surgery to Wards to deal with Seriously ill Covid patients.

“That reduces the morale of caring Clinical Staff and their teams, because they are simply unable to operate with a depleted staff.”

Mr Spratt added that he understands “the frustration of Business about the Economy, but we must listen to what our Clinical and Medical experts are saying”.

In a harsh wake-up call Mr Spratt said: “I think the general public are miles ahead of those who need to make decisions, they are voting with their feet less people out and about, more of the public doing the right thing.

“Space , Masks ,Washing hands.

“We need to listen to the experts at the Coal Face, because if you don’t you are playing Russian Roulette with precious lives.

“In saying this I am stepping back from my political view which I hold dear.

“And say to everyone who has decisions to make, you are losing the the confidence of the public in their tens of thousands as each hour passes, and that is every political party in N Ireland.

“Please take the political grand standing out of all your decisions, and do the right thing and listen to the expert advice.

“I sincerely hope reason will prevail, and all should remember that when we need that Crucial treatment, the NHS will be there and not let us down in our time of need.

“PLEASE PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING MAKE THE DECISIONS YOU NEED TO, no more dithering you will have to live by those decisions in days ahead.

“Sincerely

Jimmy Spratt”

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