Cllr Brian Dunn, NI Conservatives’ spokesman on health, has welcomed the health minister’s support for an all-Ireland facility for children’s heart surgery, saying it showed “a focus on outcomes rather than locations, which should be replicated in other areas of the NHS”.
“On this occasion Edwin Poots can be congratulated on setting aside his party’s instinctive dislike of cross border solutions, in order to focus on the opinions of health professionals and the best interests of patients”, the Larne GP commented. “Studies show clearly that it is not realistic to keep children’s coronary surgery in Belfast and an all-Ireland facility can deliver better value for money and sustain better outcomes for sick children.”
“Understandably some parents will be worried about the decision to stop surgery at the Royal. While the minister must focus on results, the department should ensure that support is available for families if the service moves, including providing outpatient and review appointments locally.”
“NI Conservatives believe that healthcare in Northern Ireland should always be focused primarily on outcomes, rather than the location of services. That may sometimes mean taking unpopular decisions and closing down facilities, in order to ensure that the best care and expertise can be concentrated somewhere else. Indeed the weight of medical opinion agrees that this pragmatic approach is the only way forward for the NHS.”
“It is important to deliver reforms now and not to shy away from difficult choices, in order to maintain an efficient, patient centred health service into the future. This time the health minister is getting it right.”