Latest releases
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3,441 releases
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McGrath: Surgeons ‘SOS’ warning deeply concerning
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath says he is disturbed by surgeons' "SOS" warning on surgical waiting lists, raised at a Royal College of Surgeons briefing to the Health Committee. He calls for action from the Health Minister and department on waiting lists.
Health Issue: Royal College of Surgeons SOS warning on surgical waiting lists Original release: McGrath: Surgeons ‘SOS’ warning deeply concerning (opens in a new tab)
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Conclusion of school meals and uniform grant eligibility review ‘long overdue’ – Sheehan
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan calls on the Education Minister to finish its review of income eligibility limits for free school meals and school uniform grants, noting it was due by April 2022 and that families just above the limits miss out on help.
Education Social security and welfare Original release: Conclusion of school meals and uniform grant eligibility review ‘long overdue’ – Sheehan (opens in a new tab)
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Speech and language therapy must be fully resourced – Baker
Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker says urgent action is needed after a Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists report found children in Northern Ireland wait longer than anywhere else on these islands for speech and language therapy. He says he will work with parties and executive ministers on…
Health Issue: Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists report on children's therapy waiting times Original release: Speech and language therapy must be fully resourced – Baker (opens in a new tab)
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Early intervention with speech and language therapy for children crucial for development, says Donnelly, responding to report
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA says more must be done on early intervention speech and language therapy for children, responding to an RCSLT report showing a 85% rise in children waiting for appointments in Northern Ireland since 2021. He calls for more speech and language…
Health Issue: Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists report on children's therapy waiting times Original release: Early intervention with speech and language therapy for children crucial for development, says Donnelly, responding to report (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath challenges Minister to commit to free parking for hospital staff
SDLP health spokesperson Colin McGrath, a South Down MLA, urges Health Minister Robin Swann to set a guaranteed timescale and interim exemption for hospital staff parking charges. He says the delay to the Hospital Parking Charges Bill, pushed through by accelerated passage, leaves staff facing…
Health Economy and employment Issue: Assembly legislation delaying abolition of hospital parking charges Original release: McGrath challenges Minister to commit to free parking for hospital staff (opens in a new tab)
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Health minister must work to abolish hospital parking charges as soon as possible – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins says the health minister must urgently work to abolish hospital parking charges after legislation moved in the Assembly delayed their abolition for up to two years. She calls for the department to quickly put the necessary infrastructure in place.
Health Issue: Assembly legislation delaying abolition of hospital parking charges Original release: Health minister must work to abolish hospital parking charges as soon as possible – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)
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GPs need urgent support – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins calls on the health minister to bring forward a plan to tackle problems facing GPs, including transforming general practice and prioritising recruitment and retention of staff, after a Royal College of GPs report.
Health Issue: Royal College of GPs report on general practice pressures Original release: GPs need urgent support – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)
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Dodds – “it’s essential that GP issues are resolved”
DUP Upper Bann MLA Diane Dodds responds to the RCGPNI report 'A Workforce Fit for the Future', calling the morning phone rush for GP appointments unacceptable and urging expanded multidisciplinary teams, more GP incentives and faster indemnity for primary care.
Health Issue: RCGPNI 'A Workforce Fit for the Future' report on GP retention Original release: Dodds – “it’s essential that GP issues are resolved” (opens in a new tab)
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Sinn Féin’s Commission on the Future of Ireland to host ‘Rights in a New Ireland’ Conference
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Original release: Sinn Féin’s Commission on the Future of Ireland to host ‘Rights in a New Ireland’ Conference (opens in a new tab)
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We’re developing a two-tier health system in NI, says McAllister, regarding children’s waiting lists report
Alliance Health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says children's health waiting lists are unacceptable and calls for appropriate funding and an expert-informed action plan with transparency over how money is spent. She cites an RCPCH report showing a record 22,272 children waiting and claims a…
Health Issue: Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health report on children's waiting lists Original release: We’re developing a two-tier health system in NI, says McAllister, regarding children’s waiting lists report (opens in a new tab)
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Health Minister must take action to avoid deepening GP workforce crisis, says McAllister
Alliance Health Spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA calls on the Health Minister to act on the Royal College of GPs' new strategy on GP workforce retention, citing low-cost options such as visa support for recruiting staff, a state-backed indemnity scheme and a review of uptake of the Attract…
Health Issue: Royal College of GPs report on general practice pressures Original release: Health Minister must take action to avoid deepening GP workforce crisis, says McAllister (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Executive not serious about tackling poverty
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says Sinn Féin, Alliance and the DUP delayed action on poverty after Executive parties backed a DUP amendment removing a call for a plan to end the two-child limit.
Social security and welfare Issue: SDLP Opposition day motion on ending the two-child Universal Credit cap Original release: O’Toole: Executive not serious about tackling poverty (opens in a new tab)
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Action needed to tackle children’s waiting lists – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins calls for a plan to tackle children's waiting lists after a Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health report, noting over 22,000 children are waiting for various treatments. She urges the health minister to set out steps to reduce the backlog.
Health Issue: Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health report on children's waiting lists Original release: Action needed to tackle children’s waiting lists – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)
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O’Toole: Ending two-child Universal Credit cap most effective way to tackle poverty
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O'Toole MLA says scrapping the two-child Universal Credit limit is the most effective way to lift children out of poverty, and calls for the Communities Minister to set out a plan to end the cap by the end of 2024, funded by proposed revenue sources.
Social security and welfare Public finance and taxation Issue: SDLP Opposition day motion on ending the two-child Universal Credit cap Original release: O’Toole: Ending two-child Universal Credit cap most effective way to tackle poverty (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Children being failed by health system
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath says children are being failed by long waits for healthcare, citing the RCPCH report on paediatric waiting times in Northern Ireland. He calls on the Health Minister to take forward its solutions and bring legislative changes to the Executive.
Health Issue: Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health report on children's waiting lists Original release: McGrath: Children being failed by health system (opens in a new tab)
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SDLP Opposition brings forward proposals to fight poverty, including ending two-child limit
SDLP Opposition, led by Leader Matthew O'Toole MLA, is using its second Opposition Day to press the Executive to scrap the two-child limit on Universal Credit, which it says is costed and practical, alongside fuel poverty measures and a ban on no-fault evictions.
Social security and welfare Original release: SDLP Opposition brings forward proposals to fight poverty, including ending two-child limit (opens in a new tab)
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Introduction of baby loss certificate important for bereaved families – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins says a certificate acknowledging pregnancy loss before 24 weeks would recognise bereaved families, and announces a motion at the Assembly on Monday backing a Baby Loss Certificate scheme. She welcomes the finance minister's commitment to review the scheme with the health…
Health Issue: Finance Minister review of early baby loss certificate scheme Original release: Introduction of baby loss certificate important for bereaved families – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)
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“Over 600 beds unavailable every day” – Dodds
DUP MLA Diane Dodds says 628 patients were kept in hospital unnecessarily on 15 March despite being fit to leave, calls for a dedicated team to be put in charge of resolving the bed blockage immediately, and says the figure is likely higher.
Health Issue: Health Minister figures on patients medically fit for discharge remaining in hospital Original release: “Over 600 beds unavailable every day” – Dodds (opens in a new tab)
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Muir welcomes opening of opt-in Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme
Alliance Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir welcomes the launch of online sign-up for the Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme, a payment support scheme that encourages beef farms to cut the slaughter age of finished cattle. He urges farmers to engage with his Department.
Agriculture and rural affairs Environment and climate Issue: Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme online sign-up launch Original release: Muir welcomes opening of opt-in Beef Carbon Reduction Scheme (opens in a new tab)
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Unacceptable crisis management in special educational needs has become the norm, says Mathison
Alliance MLA Nick Mathison, Chair of the Assembly Education Committee, says emergency crisis management in special educational needs placements has become the norm, after officials said almost 7,000 children need new placements and only 80 of 291 schools agreed to specialist provisions.
Education Disability and equality Issue: Education Committee briefing on SEN placements and specialist provisions in mainstream schools Original release: Unacceptable crisis management in special educational needs has become the norm, says Mathison (opens in a new tab)