Other News In Brief

People Urged To Attend Trans Pride

Alliance South Belfast, MLA Paula Bradshaw, has encouraged people to attend the first Trans Pride event in Belfast, which will take place on Saturday, 02 June.

Ms Bradshaw will be one of a number of political representatives attending the event at Writer's Square at 12.30pm.

"I am delighted to be leading the Alliance presence at the first Trans Pride Parade in Belfast," she said.

"I welcome the highlighting of the extent and diversity of Northern Ireland's trans community and its wide range of needs. For far too long, they have hidden themselves away, been discriminated against, have been verbally and physically abused, and have been shunned by many in our society.

"As Alliance's Health spokesperson, I am acutely aware of how support for the trans community has been structurally underfunded for many years. The sterling work of the Brackenburn Clinic's regional gender identity service has been exemplar, however, with growing numbers of trans people coming forward for support, supply has not met demand and people are having to wait for up to a year for an appointment. As such, I hope this event is a launch pad for the trans community to find its voice in calling for additional healthcare support and services."

Topglass Joins Mivan In Multi Million Pound Deal

Architectural glass company Topglass has joined Mivan and MJM Group in a multi-million pound deal.

The Antrim company started as a part-time business in 1984 by founder and owner James O'Kane. He then established Topglass as a provider of specialist glass solutions in the construction industry in 1992.

The McConville family will take control of Topglass from 31 May. James O'Kane will remain as a part-time consultant to the business for a period to support the transition. Topglass will continue to trade under its own identity and will continue to be based in Toomebridge, Antrim. The same key team will remain, with plans for further employment and expansion in the near future.

Mr O'Kane said: "We have had a long-standing relationship as a supplier to MJM Group and Mivan and in both these businesses we see echoes of our own culture, work ethic and drive for the highest standards of quality and customer service. I know Brian and his family will offer Topglass customers, suppliers and staff new opportunities and new ideas as well as building on and retaining the family ethos we have worked so hard to maintain over the past 26 years. I wish them every success with the next stage of Topglass growth and expansion."

Brian McConville, MJM Group, added: "We are delighted to take this opportunity for Topglass to join the McConville family group. We have an existing relationship with Topglass which goes back many years. There are real synergies between Topglass and the other businesses in the group and we know that we can bring long term sustainable growth to the business for many years to come.

"There is a great team in place and we look forward to getting to work with Topglass employees, customers, suppliers and stakeholders in the days and weeks ahead."

UUP Describes NHS Waiting Times As 'Frightening'

Ulster Unionist Health Spokesperson Roy Beggs MLA has said that the latest waiting times, which once again are the worst on record for the local NHS, are frightening.

Mr Beggs said: "With every passing day the crisis in the local health service deepens. Whilst there were severe pressures two years ago, the situation today is wholly unrecognisable compared to even then.

"It is scandalous that at the end of March there were over 83,000 patients waiting for over a year for their first appointment with a consultant. The figure has more than doubled in just 18 months and it illustrates the scale of the pace at which the situation is deteriorating.

"The reasons for the worsening situation are still the same as they were two years ago – a rapidly ageing population, increased demand for services and a fundamental lack of funding.

"Whilst some people can talk wishfully of transformation and the myriad of immediate benefits that it would supposedly deliver – the blunt reality is that until the mismatch between demand and capacity is addressed then things will only continue to get worse."

(CD/LM)