Elliott appalled at Health Committee Chair Comments
Ulster Unionist MLA for Fermanagh South Tyrone, Tom Elliott, has hit out at remarks made by DUP MP and Chair of the Assembly Health Committee, Iris Robinson, during a meeting of the Committee earlier today in which it has been suggested that she questioned the siting of the new acute hospital for the South West.
In a statement Mr Elliott said: “I think I speak for a lot of people when I say how tiresome it has been of late to listen to Iris Robinson using health as a political football. As Chair of the Health Committee, Mrs Robinson is meant to represent all interests and it is appalling that she has attempted to score cheap points against the Health Minister and the Ulster Unionist Party instead of putting the interests of the Health Service first.
“It really beggars belief if Mrs Robinson has now chosen to even question why the South West needs a new acute hospital. This major investment in Enniskillen, which amounts to over £250m, has been roundly welcomed by my constituents.
“I appreciate that it may be easy for Mrs Robinson to make cheap comments sitting in leafy Strangford with four acute hospitals on her doorstep but the entire community in Co Fermanagh are united in their belief that the new Hospital should be in Enniskillen.
“Many people within Fermanagh have worked tirelessly for many years to secure acute hospital services for the population of the County and indeed the entire south-west of the province, we are not going to allow this hard work to be squandered at this stage. It would be interesting to know if Iris Robinson is supported in this stance by her DUP colleagues Arlene Foster and Maurice Morrow.”
“Indeed upon assuming office in May, Michael McGimpsey affirmed the decision that the new acute hospital for the South West would be situated in Enniskillen and that a new enhanced local hospital would be sited in Omagh.
“I am only grateful that in response to these naive comments the Minister for Health has clearly reaffirmed the position that the new acute hospital for the South West will be built in Enniskillen”.
Tom continued: “Remarks such as those made today by Mrs Robinson are nothing but counterproductive and if they are allowed to continue unchecked I fear they will ultimately be to the detriment of the Health Service in Northern Ireland.”