SDLP Health Spokesperson Mark H Durkan has called for urgent political intervention to prevent a spiralling crisis in the health service.
The Foyle MLA said: “Week on week, we hear more about acute pressures on our health service leading to crisis conditions which are having a negative impact on patient care.
“Last week I met with Permanent Secretary Richard Pengelly to identify areas of critical pressure and ask fundamental questions about health service funding, including the need for clarity on the allocation of resources from the Tory/DUP deal.
“A shortage of GPs in rural communities, a lack of consultants in acute services across the North, the closure or scaling back of critical units.
“This is not a thriving health service.
“It’s barely a functioning health service. And that is in spite of the incredible efforts being made by frontline staff every day of the week.
“We are working are greatest assets to the point of exhaustion. The system is unsustainable.
“This crisis can’t be underestimated. People will wait longer for care, they will get sicker and we are doing nothing about it.
“Our Health Service needs urgent strategic leadership that can only come from Ministerial and political direction.
“That intervention must happen immediately,” he added.