Hospital x-ray warning demonstrates danger of Health cutbacks

9.27.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 30th Mar 2008

Alliance North Down Councillor Ian James Parsley

Alliance North Down Councillor Ian James Parsley has said the lack of availability over a period of months of an x-ray unit in Bangor demonstrates the danger of Unionist funding cutbacks in the Health Service.

The Holywood representative stated: "Unionists continue to make great play of how they have slashed household rates, and yet when funding is not available for essential services they are the first to complain. Yet, it is their own policies in the Executive which are making matters worse.

"It is entirely correct to say that it is a disgrace that Bangor Community Hospital has been left for several months without an essential piece of equipment, and that North Down needs its share of health spending. It is unfortunately, however, that both Unionist parties have failed to come up with the relevant funding.

"It was a DUP Finance Minister who, in real terms, cut the regional rate in a fit of populist pique, and an Ulster Unionist Health Minister who accepted an appallingly bad deal for health in Northern Ireland, meaning that rises in health funding here will be easily outstripped in every other part of the UK. These misguided cutbacks will only lead to more of the same type of problem.

"The Alliance Party is also committed to ensuring households in North Down pay not a penny more than necessary. However, we will not put populist tax cuts ahead of the delivery of essential public services."

ENDS