Hospital services in Northern Ireland are facing a crisis, according to the North's Health Minister, Mr John McFall. Addressing the Assembly yesterday he said most of the North's 16 accident units did not meet medic al standards and rationalisation was necessary to provide a "coherent and stable hospital service".
Presenting his proposal document, "Putting it Right", Mr McFall said services in some areas were facing "breakdown", putting lives at risk. He outlined health as an "early political challenge" for the Assembly, due to take responsibility for the service after the devolution of power. He encouraged members to construct a system that placed "patients before facilities".
The Minister stressed that "this strategy is not about cutting expenditure, nor is it about closing hospitals. None will close but all will change - and change for the better".
Over £732 million will be made available to the Assembly for spending on health services over the next three years. Mr McFall has proposed spending increases of £25 million on community health care and increases on childcare, cancer and acute services, with an extra £15 million for the ambulance service.
In a four-hour debate the members voiced their constituency concerns. The British government has proposed a "golden six" group of hospitals, comprising two large regional hospitals, the Royal Victoria Hospital and City Hospital, both in Belfast, along with four area hospitals at various locations. Mr Sam Foster (UUP) said the downgrading of local hospitals left some communities feeling vulnerable.
Every rural area would "fight tooth and nail" to retain services. Dr Joe Hendron (SDLP) called for a shadow executive so the Assembly "can truly face" its responsibilities on health issues.
Mr Francie Molloy (Sinn Fein), said health service planning must involve consultation with the communities it serves. The co-leader of the Women's Coalition, Mrs Monica McWilliams, said expenditure on health was failing to "keep up with the needs of patients and the wider community." The focus was on acute care to the detriment of groups such as the elderly, who are "being decanted out of geriatric care".