Courtney slams de Brún prior to SDLP healthcare conference

In the run-up to a conference on rural healthcare the SDLP's health spokesperson, assembly member Annie Courtney has again hit out at Sinn Féin Health Minister Bairbre de Brún.

Prior to the SDLP organised healthcare conference, which is to examine the needs of the rural community in Northern Ireland, Ms Courtney said that enormous change is on the way in healthcare despite what she said was a "failure" on the part of the Minister to take decisions.

Speaking prior to the event to be held on Saturday March 9 in Walsh's Hotel in Maghera 'Addressing Rural Needs – Health Care In The Frontline', SDLP assembly member Annie Courtney, said that the SDLP was attempting to move the health debate forward: "The conference will go beyond the very legitimate weaknesses of the system and begin to tackle the practical question of how we can modify the health service the fears of rural communities and tackle the unmet needs.

"For many people, their key fear is not just the quality of care they will get once they arrive at the hospital, but how long it will take for an ambulance to come and whether or not they would survive the journey to the nearest acute service.

Moreover, there is clearly the need to examine ways of getting the most from our very scarce resources."

She added that the last-minute publication of documents outlining the arrangements to replace GP fund-holding next month had done little to reassure the public, but that the conference would give people the opportunity to air their views.

Guest speakers at the event will represent a wide range of health care professions, the rural community and voluntary sector.

(SP)