Coronavirus: Both DUP and Sinn Fein appear to back Robin Swann bringing in army medics to bolster NI health service

The Minister confirmed the decision during a press conference at Stormont on Wednesday.

The News Letter understands that around 110 medical technicians will arrive in the coming days to bolster the under-pressure nursing workforce in particular.

Mr Swann said it is not the first time the military has lent a hand in the fight against coronavirus in Northern Ireland as he praised the more “low key” assistance provided earlier.

“The threat [of the virus] remains intense,” Mr Swann said.

“I will not turn down any reasonable offer of support.

“The military have already provided extensive assistance to Northern Ireland, often low-key but hugely important. They have transported seriously ill patients from Northern Ieland to England and they provided invaluable logistic advice and expertise.

“I’ve been clear that if I thought our armed forces could be of any further help, I would not shy away from requesting their support.

“We have now reached that stage.”

The minister said that while overall hospital admissions had likely now peaked, the surge in admissions to intensive care is likely to continue after reaching record levels this week.

Mr Swann said it would have been “an abdication of responsibility” if he chose not to draw on the “medical expertise” of the Army.

He also stressed his hope that the move would not be “viewed as a divisive decision”.

The DUP’s health spokesperson Pam Cameron said it is “absolutely right that all sources of assistance are being utilised”.

She described the step, however, as a “sobering reminder of the threat posed by this virus and the continuing pressure on our health service”.

The South Antrim MLA added: “As a party we have always been clear that any necessary military assistance should be availed of just as it has been in other parts of the UK and in other countries. No-one would welcome the fact that it has been deemed necessary to make this request, but everyone will welcome the assistance these personnel can bring and hope they can ease some of the pressure on our incredible health service staff.”

Last year, Sinn Fein’s Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said her party would support “whatever it takes” to save lives when asked by the News Letter specifically about the use of military aid to bolster the health service.

Yesterday, in a statement to the BBC, her party said the fight against coronavirus should not be a “green and orange issue”.

A party spokesperson told the broadcaster: “The Minister of Health has made a request for staffing support from the British Ministry of Defence.

“We do not rule out any measures to do so, and any effort to make the threat posed by Covid-19 into a green and orange issue is divisive and a distraction.”

The Sinn Fein spokesperson added: “Any effort to make the threat posed by Covid-19 into a green and orange issue is divisive and a distraction.”