Representatives from the Western Trust’s mental health and learning disability services and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service were among those to talk with the Minister at the Trust’s Lakeview Hospital in Londonderry as part of his province-wide consultation.
The Minister said: “Frontline healthcare staff are the very heart of our health service – they are the ones who make a real difference to people’s lives. I want to hear at first hand from the people who deliver vital support and life-saving services to our population, what resources they need to do their job properly and deliver a world class health service.
“I don’t want to just focus on the problems, I want to know how they think we can fix the problems and build and share examples of good practice.
“There has been considerable debate about the draft budget in the Assembly. It is right and important that the draft budget is discussed openly. I don’t believe the draft budget as it currently stands will allow me to deliver on my promise to create a world class health service. I will continue to fight for more funds and make no apology for that – I would be failing in my role as Health Minister if I did not stand up for the health service.”
The Minister has met with health and social care trusts in the run-up to Christmas, hearing from staff involved in different areas of the health service, such as primary and community care; mental health and learning disability; and children and elderly services.
He added: “The consultation period for the draft budget will close at the start of January 2008. People in Northern Ireland deserve the best health service possible but I cannot deliver it on my own. Everyone must respond to the consultation and make their views known about the importance of the health service to them, their families and the future generation.”
Notes to Editors:
- More information on the Draft Budget consultation can be found at www.pfgbudgetni.gov.uk/
- Press enquiries to the DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 2841, or out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.
