The Ulster Unionist Health spokesperson, Roy Beggs MLA has called for Edwin Poots to make his position clear on the provision of children`s heart services in Belfast.
Mr Beggs said, “The recommendation made by the report to move children`s heart services from Belfast to Dublin has been made with no explanation as to how the original panel arrived at the conclusion last year that the service in Belfast is unsustainable.
“The initial panel said specifically that there were no concerns over safety. We have asked, but have yet to receive a satisfactory answer as to how it is deemed unsustainable. To make matters worse the Health Minister, Edwin Poots is not prepared to discuss the issue in public, but instead just issues another departmental statement.
“The final decision lies with Edwin Poots. He can say no to this recommendation. This is not a time for the Minister to be shirking his responsibilities to the Northern Ireland public who depend on the Health Service, for which he is solely accountable.”