Other News In Brief

New Health Plan 'Seriously Lacks Detail' – Alliance

The Alliance Party has said that the Health Minister's newly announced three-year plan for health and social care "seriously lacks detail".

Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA has said that there was "little new contained in the proposals".

McAllister continued: "This plan is ambitious in its scope but unfortunately it does not contain anything new, along with a serious lack of detail.

"The Minister did not outline a roadmap on how better health outcomes will actually be delivered for patients and again, we ended up hearing a wishlist as opposed to anything substantial or indeed realistic.

"Funding is used consistently in the Department of Health as an excuse for inaction but unless the Minister wants the entire Executive budget, which would otherwise also go to Education, Infrastructure, DAERA and Justice among others, to go to Health, then he must accept there must be change in the system.

"Simply put, it costs more to stand still than prioritise preventative health, early screening and tackling health inequalities. We consistently spent more on health per head than other regions but instead of improved outcomes, we constantly see longer waiting lists.

"Reform of our health service should not be part of a wish list – it is absolutely necessary to ensure health and social care in Northern Ireland has a future."

SDLP Urges PM To Implement Further Sanctions On Israel

The SDLP has called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to "implement further sanctions on Israel".

Party leader Claire Hanna, was speaking in the House of Commons during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday.

Ms Hanna raised the experience of her constituents, Omar and Dalal Alshaqaqi who have lost close family members during recent Israeli air strikes.

South Belfast and Mid Down MP Ms Hanna said: "Many of us have the spent the past year looking on in horror at the genocide unfolding in Gaza and the unthinkable loss of civilian life. While we have the luxury of turning off our televisions or closing social media apps, for Palestinians each day is a living nightmare. "This is not solely something that impacts people thousands of miles away, on Thursday my constituents Omar and Dalal Alshaqaqi, who serve South Belfast as a doctor and a classroom assistant, received news they have dreaded for many months. Dalal's mother and brother were among 23 Gazans killed in their tents in Al Mawasi, a so-called Humanitarian zone, by an Israeli air strike. Other family members are fighting for their lives within a barely functioning health system.

"Today I urged the Prime Minister to hold Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Government accountable for their crimes. We need to see full sanctions on arms, trade and officials and the recognition of the state of Palestine to provide hope to those living in Gaza under bombardment every single day. The UK Government must also do more to support people like Omar and Dalal fighting tirelessly to get their family members out of Gaza. Doing nothing as this situation continues to deteriorate cannot be an option and we will continue pushing the PM."

SF Calls On People To Consider Joining Donor Register

Sinn Féin has called on anyone not presently signed up to the organ donor register to consider joining.

Speaking after Máirtín MacGabhann spoke out on Organ Donation Discussion Day about his son Dáithí's condition, West Belfast MP Paul Maskey, said: "It is 18 months since Dáithí's law came into effect, and the MacGabhann family have shown the positive impact that campaigns like these can have on society.

"Dáithí and his parents started a discussion around organ donation throughout our communities and this has had a huge impact on many people's lives.

"I want to commend Máirtín and Seph for their ongoing work in raising awareness, and I echo Máirtín's call for the need to increase the number of donors to help people like little Dáithí and so many others.

"I would encourage everyone out there to consider joining the organ donor register. This only takes two minutes and can help save the lives of those on the transplant list."

A link to join the register can be found here; www.organdonationni.info/