Dr Kieran Deeny to be offered a place on local Health Commissioning Group

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety today apologised for its error in turning down Dr Kieran Deeny’s request to be included on the West Local Commissioning Group (LCG).

Dr Kieran Deeny MLA, who is a GP from Carrickmore, Co. Tyrone applied to become a member of the West Local Commissioning Group earlier this year. He was found to be suitable for appointment, but was excluded on the grounds that his appointment would mean a conflict of interest with his role as a local MLA .

Following leave granted to Dr Deeny to have a judicial review, the Department re-examined its decision. The Department has now recognised that it had overlooked an important legal obligation. The Assembly Disqualification Act does not include Local Commissioning Groups, and therefore although it acted in accordance with the guidelines on conflicts of interest, the Department has acknowledged it has no grounds in law to disqualify Dr Deeny from the appointments process. This oversight is now being rectified and Dr Deeny has been invited to take up his membership of the West Local Commissioning Group.

The Department regrets the distress and frustration caused to Dr Deeny by this oversight and looks forward to the valuable contribution he and all members of the Groups will make to the future of local healthcare services across Northern Ireland.

Notes to Editors:

LCGs enable local health and care professionals to work with community representatives and shape the way services are delivered in their areas.

These groups will ensure that local people, service users and their carers as well as local health and social care professionals have a greater say in how resources are used, and will work to ensure that local people can access high quality services that are sustainable and responsive to their needs.

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