Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew has called on the Department of Health to do all it can in the here and now to deal with the current health crises, following a budget briefing today from department officials.

The chair of the health committee said:

“The Department of Health’s lack of ambition and creativity in coping with the current crisis is concerning. 

“While we all understand that recurrent funding is necessary to plan and manage a well-run health service, we must all do all that we can with what we have in the short term.

“Considerable additional investment has been provided by the Department of Finance and it’s vital this investment translates in to the provision of much-needed services on the ground.

“At the moment we have significant pressures on all services across the north including hospital and GP services, and already unacceptable waiting lists have been exacerbated by the Covid pandemic. 

“The absence of a multi-year budget – promised but not delivered by the British Treasury – should not prevent the Department of Health from spending what it can now to alleviate immediate pressures and provide some relief for our health workers and patients across the north.

“The Department of Health must focus on doing all that it can in the here and now.”