The Ulster Unionist Party Health Spokesperson, Jo-Anne Dobson MLA, has warned that the health cuts document published by Minister Poots may have come too late to prevent an all-out crisis in the health service.
Repeating her party leader Mike Nesbitt's call for the Executive to meet now to resolve the crisis in our Health Service, Mrs Dobson said:
"While it's clear Edwin Poots now agrees with Michael's assessment, it's a pity he didn't own up and hit the panic button years ago. The document which he has produced is heavy on threat. Now it`s time for solutions.
"I supported next week's early recall of the Health Committee, a meeting at which the Minister will have to answer many of the outstanding questions.
"It is totally wrong that elderly people are going to pay for this crisis - you have to ask where the Finance Minister, First Minister and Health Minister have been while this has been building up.
"My party is totally clear that, for us, this issue is not about politics. It is about people's lives and that is why it is vital that the Executive meet urgently, not in two weeks time, to reach a resolution and protect the public."