Mr Chairman, thank you for the warm welcome and again, welcome to North Antrim!
My name is Donna Anderson, and I am here today to talk about Health and our NHS. The NHS is something very close to my own heart and I want to tell you why.
My son Adam was born with congenital heart disease and at 10 weeks old had open heart surgery, using the fantastic facilities at the Royal Children’s Hospital and I am acutely aware of what a vital service this unit provides. As well as Adam’s heart disease, he has a unique form of Downs Syndrome therefore genetics have been involved, medical and surgical departments (to name but a few) has also been involved in his treatment and care.
I have had many battles with the NHS over the years for his treatment. I have experienced the good and I have experienced the bad – but I know is how essential the NHS is – without them my son would not be here today and he is testimony to their expertise.
Cuts
The NHS is for all us, and the front line staff are under severe pressure.
That pressure is created by bad management, bad structure, and a lack of support. In the last month alone we have witnessed Minister Wells close the Dalriada MS Respite Unit. His predecessor, Edwin Poots, went to war with Residential Care Homes.
Residential Care Homes, staff and most importantly the residents are still under threat: the move to close was only reversed to a degree because of the pleading of residents through the media. Remember too that Jim Allister re-tabled Edwin Poots’s own motion word for word attacking cuts to residential homes.
It still hasn’t been won because Trusts continue to operate a policy of having a bar on new admissions to homes.
Between the two DUP Ministers we have Children’s Paediatric and Cardiac Services exiting Northern Ireland for Dublin. I will talk in more detail on those specific issues shortly, but my message from you from the start is this:
The NHS is under threat.
The great thing about the NHS is that you and I can access it when we need it. Some people need it more than others, but when you do need it, it is there for you. When services are removed, downgraded or under so much pressure that they cannot function – then they are no longer accessible.
Dalriada
The Dalriada MS Respite service in Ballycastle has been ‘temporarily’ closed.
Temporarily closed just like the A and E unit at Belfast City Hospital – reference to which has now even been removed from signs in Belfast.
When the Minister uses the word ‘temporary’ it stops there having to be a public consultation for closure. Why is this? Because the public want an accessible health service and will reject closures of essential services.
There is a blatant hypocrisy in a party holding the Health Ministry and yet claiming to be opposed to the cuts – in Lagan Valley the DUP put leaflets round the doors talking about their work to restore the A and E unit to the Lagan Valley Hospital while their party holds the Ministry!
Transforming Your Care
A lot has been said about Transforming Your Care. It was sold as an idea which provided those using the health service with a choice – if you wanted care provided in your home, then there would be resources allocated to meet that demand.
Transforming Your Care has been transformed into Closing Your Care. Closing of A&E Units forcing increased dependency on under pressure units, closure of respite units, closures of hospitals and exiting of Children’s Cardiac services from the Province all together.
It is shameful that all this is under attack. TUV know what the NHS means to people, and we will defend it.
Children’s Cardiac Services
Over the last number of years we have been informed that Children’s Cardiac Services are unsustainable in Northern Ireland and there is a safety issue. My son Adam had his life saved by them, and countless other families have been blessed by the great work done by the Unit.
Why, all of a sudden, is it unsustainable? Why is it unsafe? Why is such a vital service being withdrawn?
Dublin, if you apply the same criteria as Northern Ireland, does not have the numbers to sustain Children’s Cardiac Services – they are dependent on Northern Ireland to increase the numbers.
The Belfast Unit has been run down, with no replacement lined up for the head consultant who is retiring. Everything is being engineered to justify the move to Dublin.
The question that has been put to TUV by the media and other parties is this: would you rather parents of children needing this service fly to mainland UK instead of driving to Dublin?
Those asking that question need to wise up.
Let me tell you my personal views:
The people asking this question have no idea what the reality is for parents living with this situation. The stress and pressure are colossal. Do they expect families to travel to another country where there is no family or friend support on hand to help to have a shoulder to cry on? Those people do not have a clue.
TUV wants this essential service to remain in Northern Ireland – as it has been for decades. That will give those families the support network which will be removed.
Health services should be local, accessible and professional. That is what I fight for my son to access. That is what I will fight for my constituents to access. That is what TUV will fight for at every level of government.