Robin Swann MLA has called on the NI Executive & Irish Government to move immediately to provide reassurance that the future of an all-island cardiac surgery service for children is not under threat following the outcome of the European referendum.
Robin Swann MLA said:
“The NI Executive & Irish Government must move immediately to put to bed speculation from the Irish Health Minister in the media over the weekend that the UK leaving the EU threatens cross-border treatment of sick children. We have waited a long time to get a final decision on the future location of cardiac services for children and will not tolerate any further uncertainty.
“We need to hear what discussions our Health Minister Michelle O’Neill has had with her counterpart in the Republic of Ireland, Simon Harris TD, to ensure that the future of this vital service is protected.
“They must enact the agreement to supply cardiac surgery for children as an all-island service. This was the call I made at today’s meeting of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly. We are still waiting for the business case to be signed off and all the while children are still having to travel to Great Britain for life saving surgery.
“It really is time that this aspiration became a reality. It would be totally unforgivable if those children and their families were met with further delay.”