Beggs hits out at deception over permanent closure of Whiteabbey Minor Injuries Unit

Ulster Unionist Party Westminster candidate for East Antrim, Roy Beggs MLA, has expressed his disappointment at a response provided to him by the former Health Minister that states the Northern Health Trust is seeking the permanent closure of the Whiteabbey Hospital Minor Injuries Unit.

Roy Beggs said:

“I and the staff in Whiteabbey Hospital feared from the start that permanent closure of the MIU was always going to be the inevitable outcome. Since the announcement was made last year of the temporary closure the unit has been effectively stripped out. The outcome of any consultation on the permanent closure of the unit seems to be a foregone conclusion. It’s clear the Minister and the Northern Health Trust have already made their decision so they shouldn’t even waste people’s time on even pretending to consult.  Both the Minister and the Department have acted shamefully throughout this entire affair.”   

The East Antrim MLA had asked the Minister when the temporary closure of Whiteabbey Hospital Minor Injuries Unit end was due to end and what plans have been made to reinstate the service.

In response, the then Health Minister Jim Wells stated ‘Financial planning for 2015/16 is on-going and all Health and Social Care Trusts must deliver substantial savings in order to live within budget and meet rising demand across HSC services.  The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has proposed in its savings that the temporary closure of Whiteabbey Hospital Minor Injuries Unit will continue in 2015/16.  The savings plan also indicates that the Trust will consult on a permanent closure of the Minor Injuries Unit.’

Roy Beggs said:

“The decision shows no consideration of the pressures on local A&E services and the inability to meet the 4 hour waiting targets. This week it was revealed that only 57% of people attending the A&E in Antrim Area Hospital in March were seen on time, even though the target is 95%. The situation in Mater Hospital was not much better at only 62%. Rather than closing local alternatives to A&E, such as the MIU in Whiteabbey, we need additional options to avoid patients adding to A&E waiting times. 

“I would call for investment in local GP services and local health and care centres.   East Antrim is one of the few constituencies not to have a A&E unit nor minor injuries unit.  Clearly with the inadequate local health facilities and many ageing health centres, there is an urgent need for health investment in modern Health and Care facilities right across East Antrim. Such facilities would enable GPs and allied health professionals to treat more patients and take pressure away from our already overburdened A&E units in Belfast and Antrim.”

Beggs highlights need for partnership to address educational under achievement

Roy Beggs MLA, the Ulster Unionist Party’s East Antrim Westminster Candidate has pledged to continue to work with communities, schools and parents to enable more young people to reach their full potential.

 

Roy Beggs said,

 

“The numbers of young people continuing to be referred to the Educational Welfare Officers for high levels of absenteeism must be of concern to us all.  Absenteeism from school will result in lower educational achievement and may lead to difficulty in gaining a place in Further and Higher Education or even being accepted onto an apprenticeship.”

 

The Ulster Unionist Candidate is a founding member of Horizon SureStart has been involved in gaining educational funding and support for parents in parts of Larne and Carrickfergus.

 

Roy Beggs MLA continued:

 

“The latest figures indicate in some areas of Larne and Carrickfergus one quarter of post primary school pupils are being referred because of missing more than 1 day in 7 from school. 

 

“Increasingly it is being once more recognised that ‘it takes a village to educate a child’.  It takes the school, the home and the local community valuing education and all working together, so that every child can reach their full potential.   As a public representative I will continue to support the efforts of organisations such as SureStart, local community and voluntary groups, parents and schools so that education is valued and more of our young people can benefit from education and have greater opportunities in their later life.

 

“Having highlighted the problem of absenteeism over the past decade, I am pleased that we are now seeing some improvement in school attendance.  This is particularly apparent in the primary school figures.  I am particular encouraged by the efforts of parents and the local community to enable their young people to strive for better educational outcomes.   This will pay dividends in later life.”

Ulster Unionist Party launch their Westminster Manifesto

Ulster Unionist Party Leader, Mike Nesbitt MLA, has stated that the Party`s Westminster candidates are committed to working for the benefit of all the people of Northern Ireland and offer a credible alternative to those candidates who practice abstentionism or peddle a message of fear over hope.

Mr Nesbitt said:

“One Day, One Vote, One Chance for Change. Vote Roy Beggs “X” on the 7^th May. That`s the opportunity that presents itself to the people of Northern Ireland on 7th May. They deserve better politics and the Ulster Unionist Party is the credible alternative.

“This is about recognising that the Union is best for all our people – it makes sense politically, economically, socially and culturally. It makes common sense and nationalists know that as well as unionists.

East Antrim Ulster Unionist Party candidate Roy Beggs said; “Everyone should have the right to have their voice heard in Westminster. Those who practice abstentionism are locked in the past.  Double jobbing MLA/MP's also prevent full representation. It is not possible to be in Westminster and Stormont at the same time.   Ulster Unionists are giving the electorate an opportunity to bring that to an end by offering hard working, dedicated candidates who are committed to working for the benefit of all the people of Northern Ireland.

“The Ulster Unionist Party is an alternative to those who peddle a message of fear over hope for the future.  And the voters have the opportunity to make change happen by voting for Ulster Unionist Party candidates on 7th May.”

Beggs call for honesty from DUP Health Minister over Whiteabbey Minor Injuries Unit

Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs has called for DUP Minister for Health, Jim Wells, to clarify the situation about the Minor Injuries Unit at Whiteabbey Hospital which was subject to a ‘temporary closure’ in December 2014.

 

The Ulster Unionist MLA said:

“On announcing that the minor injuries unit at Whiteabbey would have to be closed last autumn, Health Minister Jim Wells said that the closures of three minor injury units at Armagh, Whiteabbey and Bangor would be temporary – until the end of the financial year.

 

“We are now well into the new financial year, and there is absolutely no sign of services being restored. From speaking to Whiteabbey based staff, I am aware that services have been completely taken away from the MIU.

 

“There have been no indications from the Minister of Health or the Health Trust that they are coming forward with a consultation process about permanent closure.  It looks like what I warned could happen has happened.  Last November I said, “I hope the temporary closure at Whiteabbey will not be as temporary as the temporary closure at the City Hospital A&E is turning out to be. The City Hospital Accident and Emergency facility remains closed, 3 years after a similar temporary closure announcement.”

 

It looks like this has turned out to be prophetic.  There is no sign that the closure of Whiteabbey MIU was ever going to be anything but permanent.  I have tabled a question to the Health Minister at Stormont on this issue.  People are rightly angered and they feel have been misled  yet again by the DUP on an important local health matter.”

Beggs urges public to help Police deal with criminals

Following several vicious assaults and the erection of a paramilitary mural in Craigyhill, Roy Beggs, Ulster Unionist MLA, has urged the public to assist the PSNI in tackling criminal activity from whatever source it comes and welcome more officers being deployed to Larne.

Roy Beggs MLA the Ulster Unionist Party candidate in the Westminster Election said, “I recently met Superintendent Ryan Henderson and Chief Inspector Stephen McCauley, senior PSNI officers who have a responsibility for policing in Carrickfergus and Larne following the re-organisating of Policing to the new council boundaries.  I highlighted my concern on a number of local policing issues and that response policing officers have been based outside the area, resulting in significant travel time during each shift.  It is clear to me that an increased police presence and engagement with the local community is required to address the recent increase in serious assaults and criminal activity related to gangs.

I was pleased to be advised that in the new policing structure, over 50 response police officers covering Carrickfergus and Larne will be re-deployed to the Larne station and that community policing will be centred in Carrickfergus. 

It is disappointing that some intimidatory paramilitary murals have been erected and some self-appointed judge, jury and executioners believe that they control the community.  It is important that the community works with the PSNI to address issues of concern and for the police to enforce the law in a timely and impartial and basis.  All British citizens must be protected under our Criminal Justice system.  Yes it has flaws and it need to modernise and improve but it is better than the law of the jungle that some would wish to implement.”