Ulster Unionist Leader, Steve Aiken OBE MLA, has said that the crisis in the health service is one of the most pressing issues in the current round of talks aimed at restoring a local administration at Stormont.
Mr Aiken said:
“The most pressing situation facing us today is the need to resolve the crisis in our health service, which one health service professional has described as having fallen off a cliff.
“It will help resolve the health crisis if we can deliver the responsible, capable government that Northern Ireland so badly needs, but if we cannot achieve that at this stage, then it must be addressed with a Direct Rule minister.
“As things currently stand, there is the possibility of a deal being agreed, but I do not want to spread false optimism. Substantial issues remain to be resolved and we also need to see real change as to how Stormont does business, because we simply cannot go back to the way things were before.
“We need a prosperity agenda with investment for the long term in our schools, hospitals and infrastructure and the Ulster Unionist Party is working hard to achieve this.”