MINISTER TO CONSULT WITH FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE STAFF ON DRAFT BUDGET

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey is hitting the road to find out frontline health service staff views and concerns about the draft budget.

The consultation road shows will kick off in Belfast today when the Minister will meet with acute services staff from the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

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.”

Four other meetings will be held with the remaining health and social trusts in the run-up to Christmas. During each meeting, the Minister will hear 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. 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.”