Much-needed operations cancelled as a result of pressures in the health service - Gildernew

The party’s health spokesperson said: “Cancelling non-urgent surgeries will have a knock-on effect on emergency departments and cause further distress to patients on waiting lists which are already out of control.

“Years of Tory cuts to the health service has caused suffering and misery for patients on waiting lists.

“This is unacceptable; doctors, nurses and hard pressed ambulance staff working on the front line want investment in the health service."

Continuting, the Fermanagh and South Tyrone representative, said: “They want to substantial investment in health and social care to transform the system, to pay workers a fair wage, and bring an end to the cycle of services and health workers being overwhelmed.

“They are also crying out for political leadership and local ministers to be back around the Executive table working for the patients and the people they care for.

“The DUP should get back to work around the Executive table with the rest of us to help invest additional resources in the system reducing waiting lists and recruiting more doctors and nurses.”

Meanwhile, Mr Gildernew said the government needed to immediately reverse its policy of cuts to the health service.

“The health and social care system is breaking under the weight of more than a decade of Tory cuts to health and social care,” he said.

“The current Tory government are acting like spectators to the collapse of health services in the north and in Britain. That is cruel, uncaring and unacceptable."