MLA calls for radical health reforms
Monday, 7 January 2008
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The Health Service is not giving value for money and needs radical reform.
Declan O'Loan, MLA for North Antrim and SDLP spokesperson for finance said: "
The Health Service is costing every man, woman and child here £2,300 each year.
"Is the answer to increase the amount spent on health? I hear the
Minister talk about needing to get an extra £600m a year. That sort of money
is just not available.
"I believe that we need to look at
major structural change in health. Our current service does not stack up
against comparisons.
"High levels of illness need to be seen
as a measure of failure, not an argument for funding."
And he
concluded: "I think we need to create a system of largely independent
professional decision-making, where the politicians set out the major
guiding principles, allow the professionals to make the decisions and only
be further involved as a last resort."
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