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