We bail out banks but close hospital services
As Health Minister Jim Wells reprieves the Minor Injuries Unit at Bangor, Workers Party representative Gemma Weir says that logic must now be applied to Whiteabbey and other units in Northern Ireland faced with closure.
See the full statement here:
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Tuesday 25 November was designated the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women by the United Nations. Party members, in keeping with theme of the day, tied a number of orange ribbons to the railings of the City Hall in Belfast to highlight the abuse and violence inflicted on women world wide. More: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
Access to services without harassment, intimidation, threats or abuse
The Workers Party has welcomed the judgement in the case of Bernadette Smyth who has been found guilty of harassing Marie Stopes clinic director Ms Dawn Purvis
“Every woman who uses a family planning service, a pregnancy advice service or any other service concerned with her reproductive health and her choices deserves to avail of that service without harassment, intimidation, threats or abuse”, the Party statement said. “That right has been confirmed and upheld by today’s judgement”
“People have right to a point of view, an opinion and an opposing belief, but they don’t have a right to intimidate and harass. In light of this judgement the next logical step is for all those who protest outside the Marie Stopes clinic to desist immediately and allow women to access its services unhindered”, the Party statement concluded
Civic society needs to lead the debate
Workers Party General Secretary, John Lowry, has called for civic society to take the lead in the debate on the future of health and social care services.
“Trade unionists, service users and their families are almost alone in responding to the current crisis in the Health Service and the litany of cuts being announced across all sectors”, he claimed.
“This is in stark contrast to the lack of concern being expressed by the Health Committee of the Assembly, by Minister Wells or indeed by any of those charged with securitising the delivery of health care”.
“Instead of a co-ordinated and strategic response, we have individual healthcare professionals shooting from the hip and offering solutions on the hoof. This is clearly not the way to deal with the very real problems we are facing”.
John has called for what he describes as, “an open, transparent, and courageous debate on the type of health and care services required to deliver quality health outcomes, and deal with decades of health inequalities”.
“I believe that this type of public debate can be the first step in securing the genuine reform of our services. All the options for change need to be developed with people and not for them”, John said
“This will involve challenging vested interests inside and outside of the service and only a full public debate can achieve that. The future of our health and social care services are too important to be left to MLAs and administrators, “he concluded
Workers Party Northern Ireland 