UUP Slams Health Minister Over Emergency Waiting Times

The UUP has hit out at Health Minister Michelle O'Neill following the publication of emergency care waiting times.

Jo-Anne Dobson, an Ulster Unionist Assembly election candidate in Upper Bann said the Minister should be "ashamed".

She said: "It is often said that how our A&Es are performing is a barometer for the wider condition of the health service. The revelation that in December 2016 only 65.4% of patients were treated and discharged, or admitted within four hours, when the target is 95%, starkly illustrates the immense and unacceptable pressures currently being experienced.

"Last October when Michelle O’Neill was presenting the Bengoa reforms to the Assembly, she said our health system was at breaking point. Whilst her immediate plans were bereft of substance, detail, and even of targets, she still stated that as Minister she was going to provide the leadership needed to drive change. One of these changes were meant to include the publication in January of a so-called comprehensive plan to tackle the waiting lists crisis. With no agreed budget from the 31st March onwards, and now effectively no Executive in place, this cannot happen."

BSG Civil Engineering To Begin Work On Sewer Project In Co Antrim

Contractor BSG Civil Engineering is to begin work on a sewer improvement project in Ballycastle, Co Antrim.

The work on the Bayview Road, Strandview Road and Castle Street areas will start on Monday, 30 January, and is expected to take around two weeks to complete.

The work includes the installation of 'liners' in existing pipelines, the open-cut repair of short sections of sewer at isolated locations, as well as the laying of some sections of new replacement pipelines and associated works.

The project will involve a combination of trenchless (underground) 'no-dig' techniques and 'open-dig' works. The trenchless techniques will significantly reduce the amount of digging and ensure that repairs are completed as quickly as possible, and will be utilised wherever possible.

NI Water has discussed traffic management arrangements with Transport NI.

In order to carry out the work safely, it will be necessary to have temporary lane closures in place during the course of the works.

Woman Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

A woman has been convicted for claiming benefits she was not entitled to at Londonderry Magistrates Court.

Siobhan Boyle claimed Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance and Job Seeker Allowance totalling £8,372 while failing to declare a pension. She was given a four months suspended sentence for two years.

She is also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Department for Communities.

(CD)