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23/11/2001
Lobby group vows to fight for free nursing care
A new lobby group has been launched in Northern Ireland to pressure for free nursing care for the elderly to be included in the Executive’s forthcoming budget.
The group, called Northern Ireland Right To Care (NIRCC), has been created in direct response to the Executive’s decision to defer all funding for all elderly people in nursing institutions until 2003 as “systematic discrimination”.
NIRCC Team Leader and UNISON member Patricia McKeown described the move as nothing less than “systematic discrimination” against the elderly and said that the organisation would be mounting a “name and shame” campaign against those ministers who do not note in favour of free nursing care at the next Assembly debate on the issue, the be held next month as part of budget discussions.
“Our group represents tens of thousands of people and they will be mobilised to ensure that politicians hear their views,” she said. “On December 10, when the budget is being debated, we are going to bring people out to lobby at Stormont.”
Nursing care for senior citizens in England and Wales has been has been available on a funded basis since October 2001, with the development being phased into Scottish legislation during 2002.
In order to meet the bill of offering similar assistance in Northern Ireland, it has been estimated that the Executive will need to find an extra £35 million in funding. (CL)
The group, called Northern Ireland Right To Care (NIRCC), has been created in direct response to the Executive’s decision to defer all funding for all elderly people in nursing institutions until 2003 as “systematic discrimination”.
NIRCC Team Leader and UNISON member Patricia McKeown described the move as nothing less than “systematic discrimination” against the elderly and said that the organisation would be mounting a “name and shame” campaign against those ministers who do not note in favour of free nursing care at the next Assembly debate on the issue, the be held next month as part of budget discussions.
“Our group represents tens of thousands of people and they will be mobilised to ensure that politicians hear their views,” she said. “On December 10, when the budget is being debated, we are going to bring people out to lobby at Stormont.”
Nursing care for senior citizens in England and Wales has been has been available on a funded basis since October 2001, with the development being phased into Scottish legislation during 2002.
In order to meet the bill of offering similar assistance in Northern Ireland, it has been estimated that the Executive will need to find an extra £35 million in funding. (CL)
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