Byrne: Poots is asleep at the wheel on concept of TYC review

SDLP MLA Joe Byrne says, “While there is some value in an Emergency Health Summit it will not go far enough in addressing the core issues.”

“The SDLP has said from the start of this crisis that the situation in our emergency departments was a symptom and not a cause. Simply looking again at the symptoms will not resolve the situation.

“While the Health Minister refused to recognise the crisis at the start, in the intervening months he has slowly and reluctantly begun to wake up to the underlying causes.  This conference is another step along the way to recognising those underlying difficulties caused by the Transforming Your Care agenda.

“Public confidence in the entire system need to be addressed and that can be helped by an independent review of the Transforming Your Care targets.

“It is now two and a half years since the introduction of TYC and there is little evidence that the shift of money away from hospital services is happening effectively, or even at all. The Health Committee has heard evidence from the Department that outlines the successes of TYC and conversely from respected Unions such as the RCN who say they don’t know what it is and cannot see any evidence of its implementation.

“We in the SDLP will be urging the Committee to back an SDLP call for the Minister to begin to measure and review Transforming Your Care in the best interests of patients staff and public confidence.”