Closest matches to “Dodds - winter pressures plan is woeful”
From other parties, ranked by how close their text is in meaning. Close in meaning is not the same as agreeing. Include DUP · Back to the release
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Health Minister must urgently address decline in patient care and take effective action to transform health service, says Donnelly
Danny Donnelly MLA, Alliance health spokesperson and Health Committee deputy chair, says patient safety is at risk and urges the Health Minister to act urgently after TERN data showed Northern Ireland has the UK’s highest level of corridor care, calling for swift transformation proposals.
Health Issue: TERN data reveals highest corridor care in NI Original release: Health Minister must urgently address decline in patient care and take effective action to transform health service, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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Health crisis will continue to deepen without political leadership – Chambers
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA warns that the health service crisis will worsen while the Executive remains unrestored, saying winter pressures are costing lives and staff are being let down. He says the delay is leaving the health system without the leadership needed to implement…
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Minister must publish long overdue winter health plan, says Donnelly, warning delays are costing lives and adding pressure to stretched workforce
Alliance's Danny Donnelly MLA, a health spokesperson and nurse, calls on the Health Minister to urgently publish the overdue Winter Preparedness Plan, which was due in August, warning delays are costing lives and straining health staff.
Health Issue: Winter Preparedness Plan publication delay Original release: Minister must publish long overdue winter health plan, says Donnelly, warning delays are costing lives and adding pressure to stretched workforce (opens in a new tab)
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Winter Preparedness Plan meets targets on paper but won’t tackle real pressures, says Donnelly
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA says the delayed Winter Preparedness Plan offers no new action to ease mounting health pressures, repeats past measures and fails to deliver real change, and he has raised an Urgent Oral Question urging fresh ideas for winter.
Health Issue: Winter Preparedness Plan publication delay Original release: Winter Preparedness Plan meets targets on paper but won’t tackle real pressures, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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Health workers crying out for Executive to tackle crisis facing health and social care system – Gildernew
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew says health workers are demanding an Executive to address the health and social care crisis, urging action on waiting lists, staff shortages and hospital overcrowding, and calling on the DUP to end its blockade.
Health Issue: Health leaders request meeting with UK Secretary of State over health crisis Original release: Health workers crying out for Executive to tackle crisis facing health and social care system – Gildernew (opens in a new tab)
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Donnelly calls on Minister to address Assembly on winter pressures in health system
Alliance health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA calls on Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to appear before the Assembly on its return to set out plans for winter pressures, citing New Year's Eve A&E figures showing over half of nearly 900 attendees waited more than 12 hours.
Health Issue: New Year's Eve A&E waiting times and winter pressures in health system Original release: Donnelly calls on Minister to address Assembly on winter pressures in health system (opens in a new tab)
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Unconscionable to leave health system without clear leadership during severe winter ahead, says Bradshaw
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw says leaving the health service without clear political leadership this winter is unacceptable, after Health Minister Robin Swann's statement on severe winter pressures. She calls for a comprehensive Executive plan across all departments and says other parties are…
Health Issue: Health Minister Robin Swann's statement on winter pressures on health and social care Original release: Unconscionable to leave health system without clear leadership during severe winter ahead, says Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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McGlone calls for joined-up approach to help health pressures
SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone calls on the Department of Health to improve cooperation between health trusts to tackle current pressures, after visiting Antrim Area Hospital following a major incident there. He blames the DUP's boycott of the institutions for letting health services down.
Health Issue: Antrim Area Hospital Emergency Department temporary closure Original release: McGlone calls for joined-up approach to help health pressures (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: NHS still sleepwalking into a winter crisis despite pay deal
SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath MLA says the health service is still heading for a winter crisis despite the staff pay award, blaming Executive dysfunction and a Winter Preparedness Plan published amid delay and criticism. He calls for year-round resilience building and long-term…
Health Issue: Health and social care staff pay award and Winter Preparedness Plan Original release: McGrath: NHS still sleepwalking into a winter crisis despite pay deal (opens in a new tab)
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Staff and patients paying price for another year of late and ineffectual winter planning, says Donnelly
Alliance Health spokesperson and registered nurse Danny Donnelly MLA says the Winter Preparedness Plan should have prioritised patient flow, citing RCN testimony on corridor care. He calls the plan late and rushed and urges investment in social care to free hospital beds, ahead of an Assembly…
Health Issue: RCN testimony on corridor care and Winter Preparedness Plan Original release: Staff and patients paying price for another year of late and ineffectual winter planning, says Donnelly (opens in a new tab)
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The Case for an Integrated 111 Service
SDLP calls for a single, integrated 111 urgent care service for Northern Ireland, offering 24/7 access, clinical triage and direct booking, to ease pressure on emergency departments and support the Department of Health's 'shift left' approach.
Health Original release: The Case for an Integrated 111 Service (opens in a new tab)
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Angry voices with no ‘Plan B’ need to accept they are at the end of the road.
UUP leader Doug Beattie criticises senior Westminster-based DUP figures over their response to the Windsor Framework, saying their rhetoric ignores the cost-of-living pressures facing people. He says a possible deal is being undermined as unworkable and defeatist, and asks what the DUP's 'Plan B'…
Constitutional affairs Economy and employment Issue: DUP response to possible Windsor Framework deal and Stormont return Original release: Angry voices with no ‘Plan B’ need to accept they are at the end of the road. (opens in a new tab)
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Plan needed to tackle unacceptable delays in ambulance services, says Donnelly, ahead of Assembly motion
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA calls for a plan to tackle ambulance service delays ahead of an Assembly motion urging the Health Minister to bring forward proposals, including a workforce plan, to boost ambulance capacity.
Health Issue: Assembly motion on Northern Ireland Ambulance Service capacity and response times Original release: Plan needed to tackle unacceptable delays in ambulance services, says Donnelly, ahead of Assembly motion (opens in a new tab)
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Executive needed now to help support health service – Dillon
SF MLA Linda Dillon says emergency department waiting times across the north are unacceptable, citing 866 people waiting for treatment and 385 waiting over 12 hours, and urges parties to restore the Executive now to fund health services.
Health Issue: Emergency department waiting times figures January 2024 Original release: Executive needed now to help support health service – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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McGuigan comments on latest emergency care waiting time statistics
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan says recent emergency care waiting figures point to sustained strain in emergency departments, citing only 40.2% of patients seen within four hours and a sharp rise in 12-hour waits. He urges the Health Minister to tackle hospital flow, delayed discharges and…
Health Issue: Emergency care waiting time statistics for the last three months Original release: McGuigan comments on latest emergency care waiting time statistics (opens in a new tab)
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Patients and health staff deserve better than winter preparedness delay and disorganisation, says McAllister, ahead of Assembly motion
Alliance health spokesperson Nuala McAllister MLA says patients and staff deserve better after the Winter Preparedness Plan was published in mid-October, months after it was due in August. She calls for the Health Minister to set a timeline so 2026-27 winter planning starts earlier, with detailed…
Health Issue: Winter Preparedness Plan publication delay Original release: Patients and health staff deserve better than winter preparedness delay and disorganisation, says McAllister, ahead of Assembly motion (opens in a new tab)
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Donnelly welcomes Neurology Review and urges urgent action from Health Minister
Alliance Health spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA welcomes the Regional Review of Neurology Services but warns of slow implementation and a failure to prioritise neurology in funding. He says over 11,000 people wait more than a year for a first appointment and calls on the Health Minister to publish…
Health Issue: Regional Review of Neurology Services publication Original release: Donnelly welcomes Neurology Review and urges urgent action from Health Minister (opens in a new tab)
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Royal College of Physicians report reinforces urgent need for workforce planning – Bradshaw
Alliance Health Spokesperson Danny Donnelly says a Royal College of Physicians report on consultants' working conditions in Northern Ireland shows comprehensive workforce planning is needed to fill posts and improve conditions. Paula Bradshaw MLA says the system is letting consultants and patients…
Health Issue: Royal College of Physicians report on Northern Ireland consultants' experience Original release: Royal College of Physicians report reinforces urgent need for workforce planning – Bradshaw (opens in a new tab)
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Budget impasse a scandal which risks real term cuts to public services
UUP Finance Spokesperson Steve Aiken condemns the lack of an agreed Executive budget, saying departments face real-terms cuts under interim spending limits and health services, including staff pay awards and waiting list progress, are suffering.
Public finance and taxation Health Issue: Executive failure to pass multi-year budget Original release: Budget impasse a scandal which risks real term cuts to public services (opens in a new tab)
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Bradshaw thanks health and social care staff for work through ‘twindemic’
Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA thanks health and social care staff for their work over Christmas, warning that the 'twindemic' will keep affecting services while Northern Ireland has no Executive. She says waiting times were already worse than elsewhere, and calls for an Executive…
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‘Plan needed to tackle unacceptably long waiting times’ – Kimmins
Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins calls for the health minister to set out a plan to tackle unacceptably long waiting times, reacting to the latest waiting times figures released by the Department of Health. She also calls on the British government to properly fund the Executive.
Health Issue: Department of Health latest waiting times figures release Original release: ‘Plan needed to tackle unacceptably long waiting times’ – Kimmins (opens in a new tab)
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Donnelly concerned about increase in emergency department waiting times
Alliance Health Spokesperson Danny Donnelly MLA expresses concern at a significant rise in emergency department waiting times, citing a fall in patients discharged or admitted within four hours to 46.8% for April to June 2024. He calls for urgent Department of Health action, safe staffing…
Health Issue: Department of Health emergency care waiting times publication April to June 2024 Original release: Donnelly concerned about increase in emergency department waiting times (opens in a new tab)
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Urgent need for Executive to tackle chronic hospital pressures – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon says reports of patients waiting days in corridors at the Royal are deeply concerning and calls for an Executive to be formed now to fund and fix pressures in the health service.
Health Issue: Reports of patients waiting days in Royal Hospital corridors Original release: Urgent need for Executive to tackle chronic hospital pressures – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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“Delayed Pay Award Slap in the Face to Health Workers During Cost-Of-Living Crisis” – Connolly
Aontú's Daniel Connolly, Armagh Representative, accuses the Department of Health of delaying the NHS pay award during the cost-of-living crisis. He calls for it to be paid now, blames Stormont deadlock for blocking funding, and urges reform of Stormont and MLA pay.
Health Economy and employment Issue: Department of Health health worker pay award announcement December 2022 Original release: “Delayed Pay Award Slap in the Face to Health Workers During Cost-Of-Living Crisis” – Connolly (opens in a new tab)
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Chambers challenges Eastwood comments on NHS
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA responds to SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood's remark that Northern Ireland's health service would embarrass a third world country, calling it insulting to health staff. He calls for financial clarity and multi-year funding to tackle waiting lists and pay parity.
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Colum Eastwood's Westminster remarks on Northern Ireland health service Original release: Chambers challenges Eastwood comments on NHS (opens in a new tab)
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McGrath: Patients Are Waiting While Executive Fails to Deliver Budget
SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath says Executive inaction on a budget is leaving patients exposed as emergency department waiting times worsen, citing September figures and Ulster Hospital performance. He calls for funding to plan winter pressures, staffing and services, including fuller use of…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Health emergency department waiting times statistics September Original release: McGrath: Patients Are Waiting While Executive Fails to Deliver Budget (opens in a new tab)Archived copy (captured later), Internet Archive capture of 9 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
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Chambers welcomes publication of further waiting list plans
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA welcomes the publication of a funded plan to tackle hospital waiting lists and the reopening of the £10m reimbursement scheme for patients waiting two years or more to have surgery in the Republic. He criticises DUP health spokesperson Diane Dodds MLA's…
Health Issue: Waiting List Reimbursement Scheme reopening and waiting list implementation plan Original release: Chambers welcomes publication of further waiting list plans (opens in a new tab)
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Executive must be restored now to tackle ‘intolerable’ cancer waiting times – Dillon
Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon calls cancer waiting times in the north intolerable and urges the DUP to return to Stormont so an Executive can tackle waiting lists and the cancer strategy. She cites latest waiting time figures, saying less survivable cancers are being diagnosed too late.
Health Issue: Latest cancer waiting time figures for Northern Ireland released January 2024 Original release: Executive must be restored now to tackle ‘intolerable’ cancer waiting times – Dillon (opens in a new tab)
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Patients have shamefully been left paying the highest price of political stalemate – Chambers
UUP health spokesperson Alan Chambers MLA says patients are paying the highest price for political stalemate after the Department of Health confirmed the 2021 Elective Care Framework waiting list plan will no longer be achievable. He blames the collapse of the Executive and the withdrawal of…
Health Public finance and taxation Issue: Department of Health confirmation that Elective Care Framework targets will not be achievable Original release: Patients have shamefully been left paying the highest price of political stalemate – Chambers (opens in a new tab)