SDLP Health Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA has described an almost £1m cut to a nurse training fund without consultation as a ludicrous overreach by the Department of Health that must be challenged.
He said: “I cannot believe that the Department of Health has taken a unilateral decision to cut the nurse training fund by almost 60% with no consultation.
“This is an outrageous overreach in the absence of a functioning Executive and a decision that flies in the face of the patient-centric model that our health service is adopting through the Bengoa process.
“Historical issues around workforce planning within nursing have meant that the nurses we already have are chronically overworked.
“This decision will make that situation more acute and the negative outworking will be felt by patients.
“It just shows a stunning lack of foresight.
“I am seeking an urgent meeting with the permanent secretary in the Department of Health.
“Richard Pengelly must account for this decision.
“All of this underscores the urgent need to re-establish power-sharing.
“The Department of Health must be brought back under the control of a Minister with a mandate to protect services.
“All parties at the talks must be refocus on securing a deal,” added the Foyle MLA.
