SDLP Foyle Assembly candidate Mark H Durkan has said that it is time to remove partisan politics from the debate over the future of the Health Service.
It is just under three weeks to the Assembly elections on May 5.
And Foyle constituency will be a tightly fought contest between the SDLP and Sinn Fein who have parachuted Martin McGuinness in a bid to take a third seat.
Mr Durkan said:“The health service is one of the core public services that we all rely on.
“Our doctors, nurses and other staff perform a first class, incredibly professional service that we should all be proud of.
“That’s why the SDLP is committed to awarding a fair and well deserved consolidated pay rise to nurses and other medical staff.
These people are our health service, an investment in them is an investment in a better system.
“But we all know the health service has struggled to deal with acute and domiciliary care. We’re supporting the redistribution of services from acute settings into community care to a total of £83 million.
“We’ll also end the inappropriate use of 15 minute care visits and establish a new price regulator to ensure that domiciliary care providers receive an appropriate hourly rate that represents value for money for the health service.
“Partisan political bickering has held back progress on delivering better health outcomes.
“That’s why we’re calling for politics to be removed from this and for all parties to come round the table and come to a consensus that puts patients and clinicians first,” added the former Environment Minister.
