McDevitt: McGimpsey must explain increased waiting lists and freeze bonuses

Friday 5 March 2010

SDLP Health Spokesperson Conall McDevitt MLA has called on the Health Minister to provide a detailed explanation as to why waiting lists have increased for the second quarter in a row and has urged him to freeze bonus payments to consultants.

His call follows revelations that £11 million was paid to consultants in bonuses here last year.

The South Belfast MLA said: "The Health Minister says waiting lists have increased because of the cut backs in the health budget and the delay in approving extra funding for swine flu.

"This may be so but nobody can properly test his argument because he is refusing to provide details of how he will protect frontline services in the face of the proposed cutbacks.

"Nor does it explain why the Minister was then able to return £20million to the Department of Finance this month; money which was not spent on Swine Flu.

"The increasing trend in waiting lists is extremely worrying and suggests either there is a policy of stealth cuts targeting frontline services or the Minister simply does not have a handle on the financial management of the health service in this region.

"Bringing down waiting lists was a major target for the Health Minister in the Programme for Government. This will now be missed.

"News that Northern Ireland's top consultants received over £11m in bonuses last year is concerning.

"UTV reported last night that one consultant was paid a £73,000 bonus. This is an outrageous amount of money in the current economic climate.

"It seems the department is favouring the few at a time when many young surgeons and physicians are desperate to get jobs and serve those in need of care across Northern Ireland.

"The Minister needs to show the same leadership as his Scottish counterpart and seek a freezing of bonus payments to consultants."