McCallister recognises the extent of Hospital Infections problem but has trust that the Minister for Health will deliver the necessary improvements.
John McCallister MLA for South Down and Ulster Unionist Health Spokesperson has recognised the gravity of the figures published today which highlighted that more than 450 deaths in Northern Ireland hospitals have been linked to superbugs since 2001.
In a statement Mr. McCallister said.
“These figures illustrate to us the serious challenge that faces the health services in Northern Ireland and we must always remember that the figures represent individuals and families that have suffered greatly.
In a way the figures are also to be welcomed as we now know the true extent of this problem; we also now know that this is a long standing problem that stretches back to 2001 and I am sure prior to this date. The problem is extensive, people are still at risk and we need to continue to take the right actions. The Minister for Health Social Services and Public Safety has introduced a range of measures to tackle this problem and having examined them carefully I believe they are currently the correct actions. They include ‘ring-fenced’ funding of £9million; a new dress code for all staff has also been launched; and a hand washing and hygiene campaign has been initiated. It should be noted that it may take a little bit of time to see the results of these actions and we all have to get behind the Minister and the health professionals within the Health Service to ensure that the ambitious targets the Health Minister has set are achieved. With figures dating back to 2001 we must recognise that the Minister needs some time to improve the situation and I am confident that we are on the road to greater patient safety.
I will be working with the Minister and my colleagues on the Health Committee in an attempt improve the situation on the ground and I would call on everyone with influence, including those on the Health Committee, to work together on this issue. This is a time when we need a Churchillian attitude of co-operating in the face of a real danger to people’s lives, any political point scoring or sniping from the sides is unhelpful and unwelcome”.