De Brun criticised for not fostering cross border healthcare
Stormont Health Minister Bairbre de Brun was today under fire for failing to develop cross-border hospital links with Minister for Health Micheal Martin.
SDLP assembly member Joe Byrne accused the minister of failing to have ‘‘meaningful negotiations’’ on the use of hospital services on either side of the Irish border for emergency treatment.
The west Tyrone MLA argued: ‘‘The de Brun plan to grant enhanced services to Enniskillen at the expense of Tyrone County Hospital is based on a flawed analysis.
‘‘Her department’s own officials recognised that Omagh is the better site for the new hospital, closer to more patients than Enniskillen.
‘‘She is plumping for Enniskillen solely because she has failed to have meaningful negotiation with Micheal Martin to allow patients from each side of the border to be rushed to the nearest hospital.’’
Mr Byrne claimed the minister’s proposal for acute health care was of ‘‘enormous significance’’ to hospitals in Northern Ireland.
There was an onus on her to bring proposals for cross-border acute services to the North South Ministerial Council, he stressed.
‘‘Bairbre de Brun has abdicated her responsibilities to the people of West Tyrone,’’ the SDLP Assembly member continued.
‘‘She has failed to take advantage of the North-South institutions.
‘‘She has let down patients on both sides of the border through her inaction.
‘‘I am calling on Minister de Brun to initiate a formal meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council in sectorial format with Minister Micheal Martin on the issue of acute hospital services. This is crucial for people who live in border areas such West Tyrone.’’
