Other News In Brief

Closure Of Antrim Coast Medical Centre 'Devastating' - Alliance

The closure of Antrim Coast Medical Centre has been described as "devastating".

East Antrim Alliance candidate Stewart Dickson said the centre will close its doors after the current GP retires at the end of March. While the post had been advertised, no applications were made.

Mr Dickson said: "I repeatedly brought this issue to the attention of the Health Minister during the previous Assembly and also attempted to arrange meetings with Departmental officials to discuss potential solutions.

"The blame for this closure lies squarely at Michelle O'Neill's door. She has clearly lost grip of GP services, with this closure coming hard on the heels of the GP practice closure in Portadown. GP services are now falling like a deck of cards.

"This is devastating news for the over 2,000 patients, who will have to be reallocated to other practices miles from their homes. The vulnerable people of the Glens have been failed."

Work To Start On £200,000 Road Project In Portaferry

Construction work is to start on a £200,000 road improvement project in Portaferry, Co Down.

The work on the Cloughey Road is scheduled to begin on Monday, 06 February.

The scheme will improve the strength and surface quality of the carriageway on a two-kilometre section of this important A Class Road between Portaferry and Cloughey.

Diversions will be put in place during the work.

Call For Govt To Provide Better Working Conditions For Health Service Staff

Ulster Unionist MP Tom Elliott has called on the Government to provide a better experience and working conditions for Health Service staff.

Mr Elliott, who was present at a Westminster Hall debate triggered by an e-petition relating to pay restraint for Agenda for Change NHS staff, said:

He said: "Health Service staff provide an extremely vital role within our community. They do so under massive pressure, working long hours and in many instances going far beyond the call of duty to care for the vulnerable, sick and less able within our society. Without their dogged dedication I have no doubt whatsoever that the current waiting times crisis would be significantly worse.

"The role of doctors, nurses and community care staff should be at the top of the Government’s priority list to ensure our frontline staff receive the proper pay and working conditions that they more than deserve.

"This week I was pleased to attend and participate in the Westminster Hall debate concerning this issue. All MPs present know the value of our healthcare professionals, especially those who have recently received such care or have sat by the bedsides of loved ones.

"It is outrageous that over recent years groups within our health staff, such as nurses and midwives, have had to effectively plead for basic pay increases. Given that our medical staff in Northern Ireland are signed up to the NHS’s wider UK terms and conditions, when the Independent Pay Review Body recommends a minor increase, and it is implemented in other parts of the UK, it should be implemented here."

(CD)