SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA has said a new three-year plan must be deliverable.

He was speaking after the plan was unveiled by the Health Minister in the Assembly on Tuesday.

South Down MLA Mr McGrath said:

“Many of the measures announced by the Health Minister in the Assembly today are to be welcomed and at first glance we would be happy to give them our broad support. However, my concern is that this plan is no more than a wish list that we are unlikely to see delivered given the current trajectory of this Executive and the funding available to the Department of Health.

“I questioned the Health Minister in the Assembly today whether this plan was concrete, tangible, fully funded, time-bound and if it would have the support of the entire Executive. His answer brought little comfort that we would see many of these policies introduced within the next three years and if that’s the case how can we have any confidence in this announcement today?

“The only concrete response the Minister could give was that he would ask under pressure staff to see more patients. Asking staff who are close to burnout to do more simply isn’t realistic. The Minister would be better off turning his attention to giving these staff the pay parity they deserve and bringing forward a proper plan for long overdue transformation to the Assembly that will allow us to address the litany of issues facing our health service and start to introduce some of these positive proposals.”