Patients will suffer due to cutbacks: McCarthy

12.00.00am GMT Fri 12th Nov 2004

ALLIANCE Health spokesperson Alderman Kieran McCarthy MLA has said that the most vulnerable in society will be the victims of Government cutbacks in the health sector.

Speaking after health officials in the Eastern Health and Social Services Board discussed a funding shortfall over the next three years, Mr McCarthy said:

"A funding shortfall of £65 million is no small change, and it is clear that the most vulnerable will suffer. Mental health care is the Cinderella of the health service, but community care is also likely to suffer.

"Even though a lack of community care places leads to bed blocking, which in turn will probably mean patients being stuck on trolleys in corridors for long periods of time this winter, it seems that we are stuck in a vicious circle.

"It will be difficult to explain to the public why the elderly, the very young and those with mental health problems will suffer.

"Small injections of cash to cope with the now annual winter crisis is no way to deal with the long-term funding problems facing the health service. Setting impossible demands with limited funding is not only unrealistic, it will mean patients not getting the treatment they need and deserve."