Sinn Féin Calls For Greater All-Island Healthcare Cooperation

Sinn Féin MLAs Liz Kimmins and David Cullinane TD have called for increased all-island approaches to healthcare.

The party representatives made the statement following a visit by the Northern Ireland Assembly's health committee to Leinster House to engage with the Oireachtas' health committee.

Ms. Kimmins emphasised the importance of cross-border cooperation in improving health outcomes for people across the island. She stated that utilising all available tools, including greater collaboration, is essential for achieving better health outcomes.

Liz Kimmins said: "Today's visit to Leinster House is a fantastic opportunity to engage with TDs on the Oireachtas' health committee and to look at ways we can better work together.

"An improved all-island approach to health care would not only improve the quality of life for people on our island, but would also make our health system more sustainable. "The recently announced £58 million by PEACEPLUS, which will help to support mental ill-health services among others, will be an important resource in tackling health inequalities in border communities.

"This funding must now be built upon by both health ministers on this island to cut waiting lists, fund mental health and cancer services, hire more doctors and nurses and transform health."

David Cullinane said: "I welcome the opportunity for the Oireachtas health committee to engage with our colleagues from the north today to explore deeper all-island cooperation in healthcare.

"Partition has limited the potential of the full population of the island in terms of specialist health care, local services in border counties, and in workforce planning across our universities.

"Sinn Féin believes in all-island healthcare, and an all-island health and social care system. We can do so much more as a nation than either jurisdiction can achieve on its own."