SDLP Health Spokesperson Mark H Durkan has voiced frustrations over the continued political deadlock in the face of a health crisis here.
He said this week’s continued health staff strikes in conjunction with the Royal College of Midwives decision to vote on industrial action, bear witness to the acute pressures within the service.
Said the Foyle MLA: “The SDLP stand in solidarity with our health staff, during what I understand from speaking to those on the picket lines, has been a difficult and somewhat conflicting decision.
“These guys want to be doing their jobs, they want nothing more than to uphold high standards of care and to guarantee patient safety- which is why they have taken the step on industrial action.
“I understand too that declarations of solidarity and good intentions are not good enough.
“The cold hard facts remain that our waiting lists are at an all-time high, health staff are operating under a 12% shortfall yet they are expected to meet an increase in demand under diminishing resources.
“As strike action escalates, the situation here demands an immediate response.
“In October, I spoke on the health crisis 1000 days into deadlock, I was as dumbfounded then as I am now that a deal is yet to be reached on pay parity.
“The wilful negligence of politicians who have upheld political stagnation, have in doing so implicated themselves in the downfall of our health service.
“The electorate, I hope will judge them accordingly if a deal has not been reached by next Monday.
“Protecting our health service shouldn’t be a case of banging our heads against a brick wall- the situation is black and white.
“It is essentially a decision between what is right and wrong.
“Safeguarding our health system supersedes party politics.
“We need to adopt a narrative of cooperation, of respectful disagreement with a willingness to compromise- the future of health depends on it.
“Health workers and the public have had it with hot air and political posturing – they want action.
“This week’s restorative talks must bear fruit.”
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