Posts filed under 'Healthcare & the NHS'
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”.
E-mail April 1st, 2008
Alex Benjamin
Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for North Antrim and UUP Stormont Commissioner, has said security teams must be introduced into all hospitals where nurses and doctors from the constituency work.
Assemblyman Dr Coulter made his call as he welcomed the announcement from fellow UUP MLA and Health Minister Michael McGimpsey that a security team was being introduced into Coleraine’s Causeway Hospital because of recent attacks on medical staff.
Dr Coulter has been to the fore in pushing for hard-hitting legislation to be passed by the Assembly calling for very stiff penalties for people convicted in the courts of attacking doctors, nurses and other medical staff.
Continue Reading E-mail March 26th, 2008
Alex Benjamin
Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for North Antrim and UUP Stormont Commissioner, has warned that C-diff and other dangerous hospital acquired infections should not become a political football.
Assemblyman Dr Coulter, a member of the Stormont Health Committee, said that given the increasing number of deaths in the north Antrim region from Clostridium Difficile, commonly known as C-diff, it was necessary that any future probe or inquiry put patients first, rather than be used to score petty party points.
Dr Coulter, in a major health statement on hospital bugs, emphasized that he and his party colleague and fellow Assembly member Minister of Health Michael McGimpsey were certainly not opposed to any preventative action on C-difficile and all hospital borne infections.
Dr Coulter added: “In fact, Minister McGimpsey has been a very active Minister who has put it on record that he is not opposed to a public enquiry.
Committees of this Assembly should be used to develop public policy in tandem with the relevant Minister and not as a stick with which to beat the Minister.
“In the very serious battle to combat C-diff and other infections, fair-minded Assembly members should not be side tracked from this important battle by any hysterical attacks on Minister McGimpsey.
“Quite apart from this issue being far too serious for this kind of juvenile and pathetic debating society point scoring, Minister McGimpsey has made it plain that he is not opposed to a public enquiry, so there should be no real or justifiable gripe with the Minister.
“Assembly members should also not be side tracked away from their primary battle in defeating C-diff and other such infections by any cheap political stunts designed, I believe, to divert public attention away from problems and difficulties in other political parties.
“Minister McGimpsey has, in fact, shown himself to be proactive throughout this hospital acquired infection crisis in just the same way that he was proactive on assuming office in sorting out the junior doctors’ crisis at the outset of his tenure.
“In appointing a review team comprising experts in infection control nominated by the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority, Minister McGimpsey has added to the actions he has already taken in response to this crisis.
“These include the introduction of a dress code for healthcare staff; and a consultation on a hospital visiting policy for all trusts. The Minister said he was confident that this team, which has considerable knowledge and the necessary expertise in infections such as C difficile, will thoroughly investigate the current outbreak and report back any learning the system needs to incorporate in its daily practices quickly.
“The Minister has made it clear that, until the current outbreak in the Northern Trust is fully contained, the review team will focus on urgently examining infection control measures being taken across the other health trusts.
“The Minister has announced a consultation on hospital visiting policies, he has set out the key principles on visiting policy which include firm restrictions on visiting hours, limits on the numbers of visitors per patient and requiring staff to ensure visitors comply with infection control policies.
“The Minister has launched a regional dress code policy for healthcare staff and recommendations for staff changing facilities. Staff wearing uniforms outside of hospitals has been an area of concern for the public, particularly the perception that this practice increases the risk of infection.
“The Minister has said health trusts are also being asked to carry out a review of existing facilities which do not have adequate changing facilities. New buildings which include staff changing facilities will be required to fully implement the recommendations of this policy.
“So we have here a picture of Ministerial action and not of inaction. The public must also give him credit where it is due and not to fall into the trap of being duped by any politically motivated spin of low cunning and disreputable intent which has little or nothing to do with the real war against hospital acquired infections which the Minister is already dedicatedly fighting,” said Assemblyman Dr Coulter.
E-mail March 14th, 2008
Alex Benjamin
(slink img=robertcoulter-large.jpg]Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for North Antrim and UUP Stormont Commissioner, has called on the Northern Health Trust and Health Minister Michael McGimpsey to fund a full-time, permanent nurse for Rathlin Island .
Assemblyman Dr Coulter, who is a member of the Stormont Health Committee, said the present nursing cover was only part-time and that residents, tourists and visitors needed “a full-time nursing presence”.
He added: “The people on Rathlin do not enjoy the same medical luxury as the North Antrim mainland when it comes to getting to a casualty facility. While we can mostly drive to an area hospital, the folk on Rathlin – whether residents or visitors – must embark on a boat journey, and that also depends on favourable weather conditions.
“In calling for full-time, permanent nursing cover, I am responding to a situation highlighted in the aftermath of the well-publicised incident involving a lifeboat.
“I will be taking the matter up with both the Northern Health Trust and our Health Minister Michael McGimpsey in the hope that funding can be made available to provide the much-needed full-time nursing cover for the islanders.
“As we near the first anniversary of the return of legislative, devolved government to Northern Ireland , already there is evidence that more people – especially young people – are visiting Rathlin, which is gaining a very credible reputation as one of the constituency’s leading tourist spots.
“With the increase in people comes the responsibility on our local administration to provide the necessary medical care.
“I hope it will not be too long before it can be formally announced that Rathlin will be treated like any other part of the North Antrim constituency, enjoying permanent access to full-time nursing cover,” said Assemblyman Dr Coulter.
E-mail March 14th, 2008
Alex Benjamin
Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly Member for North Antrim and UUP Stormont Commissioner, has called on constituents to test their smoke alarms after it emerged less than three-quarters of people who have them, tested them.
Dr Coulter, who is also UUP Health Spokesman, made his call after supporting a successful Assembly motion which urged the Health Department to ensure every Northern Ireland home had a working smoke alarm.
Continue Reading E-mail January 24th, 2008
Alex Benjamin
Sam Gardiner MLA, the Ulster Assembly Member for Upper Bann, has said that the total ban on television advertisements for unhealthy food and drinks timed around children’s programmes and adult programmes which children watch has now come into force.
“I believe this is a very important step. Not only does it curb adverts for products high in fat, salt and sugar but the ban will be extended to all specific children’s TV channels by the end of this year. As someone who has campaigned for this for several years, I believe this represents a big advance in the war against childhood diabetes.”
“I also want to praise the regulator Ofcom for developing these new regulations. This is a major step forward but it is not the end of the action which is needed. The next step must be a total ban on advertising these foods, before 9pm.”
“We have got to get children totally out of harm’s way where junk food is concerned. The advertising industry is very inventive and we need now to look at the advertising of junk foods not merely on television but also in other less obvious places, such as teacher packs in schools supplied free by food and drink manufacturers and in the sponsorship of television programmes and series.”
“We cannot afford to lose the battle against diabetes. If we fail, the advance of the disease will do irreparable damage to our health service. Where something is easily preventable we must prevent it. There are enough illnesses out there which will be hard for medical science to conquer without having to divert our much needed health service resources into conditions we can more easily do something about.”
Continue Reading E-mail January 11th, 2008
Alex Benjamin
Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for North Antrim and UUP Stormont Commissioner, has backed a Stormont motion calling on Health Minister Michael McGimpsey to introduce a health and social services reform Bill as a matter of urgency.
Dr Coulter, who is also UUP Health Spokesman, added: “Anyone looking at the monolith of the Health Service will agree that reform is necessary. The Ulster Unionist Party has called for this kind of reform for quite some time.
“My question is: what kind of single health authority do we want? The proposal is for a health and social services authority that will replace the four health boards. Such an organisation has been asked for, through legislation, for some time. It would have an annual budget of £140 million and 1,800 staff.
“People should look at that proposal and see it for what it is: a glorified quango. I am sure that those who propose the motion do not wish to advance “quangoland” in Northern Ireland any further. We have far too many quangos, and we do not want a super-quango that will drain £140 million from the health budget every year and carry a burden of 1,800 staff.
“The Royal College of Nursing has supported Minister McGimpsey’s stance and believes that the Direct Rule proposals now being adopted by the DUP are flawed because they fail to provide for accountability. The health and social services super-quango is to have 11 senior executives on salaries that will be well in excess of £100,000.
“The monstrous and unaccountable health and social services authority was the creature of Direct Rule Ministers. Why is the DUP adopting this further drain on the Health Service budget?
“The recent draft Programme for Government made us all sit up and ask where we had heard it all before. An Ulster Unionist Minister is crying for more money for the Health Service; but what was presented as new was an amalgam of Bills generated by the Civil Service machine under Direct Rule Ministers and rehashed and represented to us.
Continue Reading E-mail December 11th, 2007
Rev. Dr. Robert Coulter MLA
Rev Dr Robert Coulter, the Ulster Unionist Party Assembly member for North Antrim and UUP Stormont Commissioner, has supported a Stormont call for a special Bill bringing in more powers to protect health service workers.
Assemblyman Dr Coulter, who is also UUP Health Spokesman, added: “I have supported the motion that this Assembly endorses the principle of the extension to Northern Ireland of the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill dealing with nuisance or disturbance on Health and Social Services premises which are contained in clause 107 of, and schedule 18 to, that Bill as introduced in the House of Commons.
“This issue has occupied my attention for some time, and I have campaigned long and hard. It is completely unsustainable for any democratic society to allow attacks on health workers, especially in the accident and emergency departments.
“I am glad that there are specific definitive statements set aside to pinpoint the areas in which a criminal charge can be brought against someone who indulges himself or herself — under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or for whatever reason — on those who are trying to assist them to regain their health.
“However, we have to look beyond the hospitals and the accident and emergency departments. In these days when the health system is developing and evolving and many health workers are out in the community, we constantly hear stories of those who have gone to homes to help people and who have been abused verbally and physically by those whom they have gone to help, or by members of their family.
“The Bill should reflect all these things and cover all emergencies in that way. We are also appalled when we read of attacks on ambulance workers or on any aspect of the emergency services. The powers must be there to deal with those who think that it is entertainment to attack ambulance workers or their vehicles.
“I trust that the Bill will not be delayed, and that it will go forward quickly so that healthcare workers can be encouraged and motivated in the knowledge that the Assembly supports them in the defence of their principles and their safety,” said Assemblyman Dr Coulter.
Continue Reading E-mail December 8th, 2007
Rev. Dr. Robert Coulter MLA
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.”
Continue Reading E-mail December 8th, 2007
Tom Elliott MLA
Iris Robinsons recent outburst concerning our much loved, highly respected and extremely hard working health professionals really does provide conclusive proof of just how arrogant she has become. We should all be looking for efficiencies within the management of our NHS infrastructure but to lecture some of the most dedicated vocationalists in our province and tell them that they are inefficient compared to their colleagues in Great Britain is down right insulting and this point has been made to me when I have been out and about in the days since her comments were made.
Does she really dislike her husbands ministerial colleague that much to show such arrogant contempt for the magnificent people that have helped us all over the years of the troubles and beyond without fear or favour regardless of our political or religious beliefs? It was also nice to hear Iris quoting from our recent Party Election Broadcast with regards to our pledge to represent the people of Northern Ireland and form an executive after the election.
This was at the same time that many within Mrs Robinsons party were still conning the electorate with visions of “Over My Dead Body” or the liberal wing saying “When they disband the IRA Army Council”. Once again the UUP led the way and the DUP followed, which we all new they would, they just did not have the nerve to tell the people prior to the election. We will be operating an opposition from within the Executive which as Peter Robinson reminded us during the last period of Devolution is our right when the interests of our people is to do so.
We will be holding Sinn Fein/DUP to account when they short change our Health Service or fail to get the balance right between much needed economic provision and equally important social needs. We have not gone away you know, and for Northern Irelands place in the United Kingdom sake, I hope we never do.
Continue Reading E-mail December 7th, 2007
Cllr Mark Cosgrove
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