SWAP chair Patricia Donald
AS the battle continues to save the state-of-the-art stroke unit at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH), and as our GP crisis rumbles on, further pain may be on the way as proposed cuts could see the Western Trust’s budget slashed.
Last Friday it was announced the Department of Health had proposed to cut a further £70 million from the health and social care budget. Since the weekend, many have pointed out these cuts could be avoided if there was a functioning Assembly at Stormont.
Chairman of the South West Ageing Partnership (SWAP), Patricia Donald, called on the two main parties, Sinn Fein and the DUP, to “get their act together” and get power sharing up and running again.
Pointing out Sinn Fein had this week called for return to the talks table as soon as possible, Ms Donald said there would be £1 billion extra in the economy, thanks to the DUP/Conservative Westminster deal, if the Stormont Executive was in place.
“SWAP are saying everything needs to go off the table, we need no red lines,” she said. “We are deeply disturbed they won’t sit down and clear the deck. It’s not about Sinn Fein and it’s not about the DUP, this is about the health service, education, and the voluntary sector.”
Ms Donald said that a stalemate over issues like an Irish Language Act and the upcoming RHI report was resulting in cuts that meant patients of all ages were missing out on health treatments, while children where being affected by cuts to school budgets.
“They need to publish the “ash for cash” report forthwith, and take the Irish Language Act off the table,” she said.
Cllr Raymond Farrell, who works in the health care sector, said the proposed cuts could be avoided if a health report published last year was implemented, but again, an Assembly was needed.
“Cutting budgets in front line staff puts added stress on existing staff, increasing waiting lists and surgery times increase health problems which instead of acute become chronic problems. Putting added stress on domicillary care budgets adds to the stress of the vulnerable in the community and those who care for them” he said.
“A better way forward is to implement the Bengoa Report and reform our health service and for that to happen we need an Assembly up and running that can make the bread and butter decisions we need for all our people.”
The Western Trust is to hold an extraordinary meeting of its Board tomorrow, Thursday August 24. If a draft plan of saving is approved, the plan will then go to public consultation.
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