South and East Belfast Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

LONG WELCOMES REDUCTION IN WAITING LISTS

Published: 20 April, 2006

Balmoral Sinn Fein representative, and Chairperson of the Party's Health Advisory Committee, Stiofan Long has welcomed the reduction in the number of people waiting to be admitted to hospital for treatment but has advised caution on the issue.

Mr Long said,

" I welcome the announcement that the number of people waiting to be admitted to hospital for treatment has been reduced and would take this opportunity to pay tribute to the hard work of hospital staff in helping to achieve this".

Signalling a note of caution he said,

" There is, however, much more needing to be done, particularly when one examines the soaring numbers who are waiting for a first outpatient appointment. These dreadful statistics spell misery for so many people.

" A truer picture would show the number of people who should be on inpatient lists and are otherwise not even counted because they are waiting for further appointments such as scans, ultra sound tests and other investigations.

" I would urge British Direct Rule Minister Shaun Woodward's to move immediately to deal with this issue fully".

ENDS