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10/05/2018
SDLP Hits Out At Delays To Southern Trust Paediatric Surgeries
The SDLP have hit out at the "unacceptable" delays to paediatric surgeries in the Southern Health Trust in Craigavon Area Hospital and Daisy Hill.
SDLP Upper Bann MLA, Dolores Kelly, said that as many as 100 children have had their paediatric surgery in the Southern Trust delayed.
Later this month, Mrs Kelly will meet with the Chief Executive of the Southern Trust, Shane Devlin, and said she will be raising the issues of these delays during the meeting.
"I will be making representations on behalf of concerned families and making it clear that children’s surgery must be fully operational immediately," she said.
"I have also contacted the Trust today to ask for further details of the waiting times that families are facing for first assessment appointments with a paediatric consultant and how long they will be left to wait for treatment or surgery following their assessment.
"It is my understanding that one family was told that they would have to wait three years for the first assessment appointment with a consultant paediatrician. This is simply unacceptable. Our people and our children should not be left to wait and it is vital that healthcare is prioritised."
SDLP South Down MLA, Sinead Bradley, said the health service "has been starved of strategic and political direction" at a time when transformation plans should be implemented.
"Children and their families should not have to pay the price and it is absolutely essential that surgery for these children is not delayed any longer," she said.
(LM/MH)
SDLP Upper Bann MLA, Dolores Kelly, said that as many as 100 children have had their paediatric surgery in the Southern Trust delayed.
Later this month, Mrs Kelly will meet with the Chief Executive of the Southern Trust, Shane Devlin, and said she will be raising the issues of these delays during the meeting.
"I will be making representations on behalf of concerned families and making it clear that children’s surgery must be fully operational immediately," she said.
"I have also contacted the Trust today to ask for further details of the waiting times that families are facing for first assessment appointments with a paediatric consultant and how long they will be left to wait for treatment or surgery following their assessment.
"It is my understanding that one family was told that they would have to wait three years for the first assessment appointment with a consultant paediatrician. This is simply unacceptable. Our people and our children should not be left to wait and it is vital that healthcare is prioritised."
SDLP South Down MLA, Sinead Bradley, said the health service "has been starved of strategic and political direction" at a time when transformation plans should be implemented.
"Children and their families should not have to pay the price and it is absolutely essential that surgery for these children is not delayed any longer," she said.
(LM/MH)
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