Frontline cuts of 'grave concern'

SDLP Foyle Westminster candidate Mark Durkan has said he is "gravely concerned" at the effects of cuts on frontline health services.
By The Newsroom
Published 21st Apr 2010, 12:55 BST
Updated 26th Apr 2010, 19:57 BST

He said that closing beds for elderly patients at Waterside Hospital, shutting Foyleville residential home, reducing home help and slicing learning disabled services proves that some of the most vulnerable people in Londonderry are “paying the price for a badly made Assembly budget”.

Mr Durkan and fellow SDLP Foyle MLAs Pat Ramsey and Mary Bradley recently met Western Health Trust heads to discuss the situation and its effects on the ground.

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He said: “The SDLP warned when the Assembly voted for this budget that so-called ‘efficiency savings’ were mostly old-fashioned cuts to frontline services.

“We voted against that slash and burn budget. Sinn Fin and the DUP voted for it yet now cry crocodile tears when confronted with its effects on the ground.

“Last year, the SDLP launched a plan to recover over 400 million by better use of public money and reform of public resources. High quality services should not fall victim to low quality politics. We are offering the people of Derry and across the North a better way than cuts, cuts, cuts.”