NI Swine Flu Spending Defended

Hindsight is being hailed as a 'great thing' as NI Health Minister Michael McGimpsey hit back today local GPs criticised his spending on swine flu vaccinations.

Dr Brian Dunn made his comments in light of the revelation that around 300,000 swine flu vaccines remain unused in Northern Ireland at a cost of £41 million to the Department of Health.

Despite there being 18 swine flu-related deaths in Northern Ireland with two other people from the Province dying overseas, the Chairman of the British Medical Association's (BMA) GPs committee, Dr Dunn said: "At a time when money is scarce and is likely to get scarcer; at a time when waiting lists are going up; at a time when we are talking about cuts in front-line services, I think it is very hard to justify that."

Today, responding to the criticism, Mr McGimpsey said: "As Health Minister, I make no apology for fighting tooth and nail for every penny of my budget to provide a first-class health service for the people of Northern Ireland."

In response to the criticism, Mr McGimpsey also said: "Dr Dunn's comments are his opinion. I have to make decisions based on independent scientific advice and evidence from national expert groups such as the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE) and JCVI as well as internationally, from the World Health Organisation among others.

"It is incredibly easy to be wise with the benefit of hindsight but pandemics are, by their very nature, unpredictable," the UUP Minister (pictured) continued.

"During the swine flu pandemic it was entirely appropriate for Government to be prepared for the worst while continuing to hope for the best. I would have been failing the people of Northern Ireland by responding in any other way."

In December last year, the Stormont Executive decided that the minister would need £61 million to combat the threat of the virus, and the stockpiling of vaccines was supported by other members of the BMA who thought it was better to have "too many than not enough", as hundreds of thousands of people across the UK are thought to have been infected without displaying any symptoms of swine flu.

However, the Minister added: "As the swine flu virus will be the predominant virus this winter, my Department will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that it has enough vaccines to protect the public.

"At present there are just over 300,000 doses available in Northern Ireland as part of a strategic reserve for future use over the next 18 months and in line with Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice."

See: Swine Flu Spending 'Unjustified'

(BMcC/GK)