East Derry MLA Cara Hunter
Said the East Derry MLA: ““I am excited to take on this new role and thank our party leader for his confidence in me.
“There are big challenges ahead in this brief but I am up for the hard work and will seek to play a constructive role on the Health committee.
“I look forward to following on from the excellent work of my predecessor, Colin McGrath MLA.
“Clearly our health service is facing unprecedented challenges, with services and staff acutely being impacted by covid-19 and decades of underfunding.
“Our health system is in crisis and it is essential that we all work together, to rebuild a health service that works for everyone.”
“I will focus particularly strongly in my new role on mental health and fighting hard for mental health provision and services that meets the need of people right across the North.
“Even before covid-19, our mental health provision was already woefully inadequate, but given the mental health implications of the pandemic and lockdown, it is essential we invest in these services and supporting people.
“I will be pressing for suicide prevention services, such as the Crisis Intervention Service in Derry, to receive adequate, ring-fenced funding to allow them to save lives.
“I am excited about my new role and hopeful for the future. I look forward to playing a constructive role in delivering a first class health service that meets the needs of our people.”
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood MP said: “I am delighted to announce today that Cara Hunter MLA will step forward as our Health Spokesperson and serve on the Assembly Health Committee.
“This appointment reflects the growing talent pool within the SDLP and our commitment to giving new voices the chance to shape public policy.
“In the context of the pandemic and escalating waiting lists, I know Cara will fight hard for a health service that works for everyone.”
