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11/08/2017
Other News In Brief
Repair Work To Be Carried Out On Footbridge In South Belfast
Essential repair work is to be carried out on a footbridge in south Belfast.
The work will begin on the A24 Saintfield Road in the Glenhugh Park area at 8pm on Saturday, 12 August.
Three lanes of the carriageway will be closed, allowing one country-bound lane to operate for the duration of the work. A diversionary route for city-bound traffic will be signed via Purdysburn Road and the A55 Outer Ring Road.
The road will be fully opened again to all traffic by 4pm on Sunday, 13 August.
Call For 'Political Intervention' To Prevent Spiralling Crisis In Health Service
The SDLP is calling for urgent political intervention to prevent a spiralling crisis in the health service in Northern Ireland.
Health Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA said: "Last week I met with Permanent Secretary Richard Pengelly to identify areas of critical pressure and ask fundamental questions about health service funding, including the need for clarity on the allocation of resources from the Tory/DUP deal.
"A shortage of GPs in rural communities, a lack of consultants in acute services across the North, the closure or scaling back of critical units. This is not a thriving health service. It's barely a functioning health service. And that is in spite of the incredible efforts being made by frontline staff every day of the week. We are working are greatest assets to the point of exhaustion. The system is unsustainable.
"This crisis can't be underestimated. People will wait longer for care, they will get sicker and we are doing nothing about it. Our Health Service needs urgent strategic leadership that can only come from Ministerial and political direction. That intervention must happen immediately."
Alliance Congratulates Airports On Rating Over Access For Disabled Passengers
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has congratulated local airports on achieving a 'good' rating in relation to accessibility for disabled passengers, however she warned more needs to be done to improve the ranking.
Ms Armstrong said the Civil Aviation Authority's report on the accessibility of 30 UK airports for passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility showed Belfast City, Belfast International and City of Derry airports were doing lots for disabled passengers but improvements were still needed.
She said: "I send my congratulations to these three airports for their rating of 'good' but I am disappointed none of the local airports achieved the highest rating.
"However, I am confident the management of each airport will work with disability groups to ensure accessibility and service standards are improved."
(CD)
Essential repair work is to be carried out on a footbridge in south Belfast.
The work will begin on the A24 Saintfield Road in the Glenhugh Park area at 8pm on Saturday, 12 August.
Three lanes of the carriageway will be closed, allowing one country-bound lane to operate for the duration of the work. A diversionary route for city-bound traffic will be signed via Purdysburn Road and the A55 Outer Ring Road.
The road will be fully opened again to all traffic by 4pm on Sunday, 13 August.
Call For 'Political Intervention' To Prevent Spiralling Crisis In Health Service
The SDLP is calling for urgent political intervention to prevent a spiralling crisis in the health service in Northern Ireland.
Health Spokesperson Mark H Durkan MLA said: "Last week I met with Permanent Secretary Richard Pengelly to identify areas of critical pressure and ask fundamental questions about health service funding, including the need for clarity on the allocation of resources from the Tory/DUP deal.
"A shortage of GPs in rural communities, a lack of consultants in acute services across the North, the closure or scaling back of critical units. This is not a thriving health service. It's barely a functioning health service. And that is in spite of the incredible efforts being made by frontline staff every day of the week. We are working are greatest assets to the point of exhaustion. The system is unsustainable.
"This crisis can't be underestimated. People will wait longer for care, they will get sicker and we are doing nothing about it. Our Health Service needs urgent strategic leadership that can only come from Ministerial and political direction. That intervention must happen immediately."
Alliance Congratulates Airports On Rating Over Access For Disabled Passengers
Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has congratulated local airports on achieving a 'good' rating in relation to accessibility for disabled passengers, however she warned more needs to be done to improve the ranking.
Ms Armstrong said the Civil Aviation Authority's report on the accessibility of 30 UK airports for passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility showed Belfast City, Belfast International and City of Derry airports were doing lots for disabled passengers but improvements were still needed.
She said: "I send my congratulations to these three airports for their rating of 'good' but I am disappointed none of the local airports achieved the highest rating.
"However, I am confident the management of each airport will work with disability groups to ensure accessibility and service standards are improved."
(CD)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A cloudy day with a little light rain or drizzle at times, but some spells of drier weather too. The north coast may become somewhat brighter later this afternoon. Maximum temperature 11 °C.Tonight:Cloudy and patchy light rain will slowly clear away this evening. Then the rest of the night will be dry with broken cloud. Westerly winds freshening in the early hours. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
