Pat Lawlor, from the Stop the Cuts Campaign, stated “The cuts being threatened by the Executive will be disastrous. The closure of accident and emergency units following recent closure of units and cut hours at the Mid-Ulster, Whiteabbey and Downe Hospitals will literally cost lives.
“These cuts have led to a doubling of those waiting more than 12 hours in accident and emergency units in the past year alone. Further closures and cuts in hours will mean people will have to travel further distances and wait longer for treatment in hospitals which are not sufficiently staffed. That is why the threat to make 4,000 health workers redundant also needs to be countered.
Stop the Cuts launches Save our Health Service drive
Mr Lawlor added “The steering committee of the Stop the Cuts Campaign this week agreed to launch Save our Health Service campaign in response to plans for deep cuts. We will be building public opposition in communities and amongst health workers to cuts. We do not accept that cuts are needed. It is shameful that the Executive is prepared to make these hugely damaging cuts to vital services while the wealthy get away with not paying in excess of £120billion through tax evasion and avoidance every single year.
Information accidentally released by the Department of Regional Development to the Belfast Newsletter on the 7th August has exposed how the Minister for Regional Development Danny Kennedy intends to slash local bus services and jobs.
Sinn Fein councillor Domhnall O Cobhthaigh today announced his resiganation from the party at a press conference in order to join the Socialist Party to “build a cross-community opposition to the right-wing economic policies of the Assembly Executive”.
New economic data shows… Recession - no end in sight