Robin Swann: NHS has been let down by Stormont over past decade

The current health minister said the system had been run down so far that a scramble was necessary to find capacity to cope when the coronavirus pandemic struck in Northern Ireland.

The last decade has seen turbulence at Stormont, including a three-year suspension of devolved government following a breakdown in relations, leaving senior civil servants to lead departments with limited powers.

“Vital services have been underfunded, short-term decisions were preferred over long-term planning, difficult choices were ducked, staff were left to feel unappreciated, social care was particularly neglected,” Mr Swann said.

Addressing MLAs at Stormont’s Ad Hoc committee on the Covid-19 response, the health minister urged “humility and reflection” around the chamber.

“Underfunding and short-term planning led to staff levels becoming depleted,” he went on.

“Persistent single-year budgets have seen healthcare surviving hand to mouth with a limited ability to plan strategically and deliver better services.

“Running health and social care on close to empty for 10 years robbed it of capacity, resilience and flexibility.

“It left us with no option but to scramble to free up capacity and procure much-needed equipment at pace.”

First Minister Arlene Foster responded to the comments saying the Executive would have preferred to have had more money to spend on health in past years, but were restricted by the funding from London via the Barnett Formula.

Mrs Foster said she and Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill “very much appreciate” the work that goes on in the health service.

“Sometimes when you have something, and it’s there and it’s functioning, it gets taken for granted,” Mrs Foster said.

“But I don’t think anyone takes the National Health Service for granted anymore.”

Earlier this week, Mr Swann announced Northern Ireland’s Nightingale facility will be stood down, allowing the reintroduction of urgent surgery and other key services to be delivered from Belfast City Hospital’s tower block.

But he said the facility will be retained as part of flexible plans for any potential re-escalation of the Covid-19 response.

Health committee chair Colm Gildernew challenged the minister on the pausing of contact tracing by the UK government in March, asking if it had caused an “enormous explosion in spread of Covid-19”.

Mr Swann responded by saying “let’s get through this first” before looking back to ensure that “any mistakes that were made are not repeated”.

“We have established our own contact tracing team here in Northern Ireland. It’s already on the ground, it’s already working in care homes.”