Monthly Archives: September 2019

‘Ministerial targets state that 95% of patients urgently referred for suspected cancer should start their treatment within 62 days’ (stock photo) More patients are waiting longer than they should to start urgent cancer treatment in Northern Ireland. Just over 55% of those diagnosed (180 out of 325 cases) had their first treatment within 62 days between April and June this year following an urgent referral. This was a drop of around 15% from the same period last year (70.8%), official figures show. Ministerial targets state that 95% of patients urgently referred for suspected cancer should start their treatment within 62 days. This target, set in 2009, has never been met by any health trust in Northern Ireland. Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs said: “Once again these figures confirm that the situation in our health service is still getting worse. “We have by far the worst waiting times in the UK … Continue reading →

Image copyright PAcemaker Image caption The Belfast Telegraph reports a dispute over rent scuppered a potential deal to save Wrightbus A mix of stories make the front of Friday’s papers after a week dominated by Wrightbus and Brexit. The lead in the Belfast Telegraph follows on from the collapse of the Ballymena bus builder and the near miss to secure a deal to save the company. It reports negotiations with a Chinese company, believed to be Weichai, came close to completion – but were scuppered by annual rent of around £1m. It says a separate company owned by the Wright family owns the site, and would have received the rent. Wrightbus collapsed on Wednesday, resulting in about 1,200 employees being made redundant. ‘Nothing out of the ordinary’ Inside, the paper has a heart-warming story about a supermarket worker who went above and beyond the call of duty. David Vance, a … Continue reading →

An awareness campaign aimed at tackling paramilitarism in Northern Ireland is too tame and shies away from the violent crimes of the gunmen, an MLA has claimed. Roy Beggs raised concerns that the End the Harm ad drive would not have the desired impact. He was one of a number of Assembly members on the Justice Committee that questioned Department of Justice officials on the Executive’s efforts to stamp out paramilitaries and organised crime gangs. The new £530,000 advertising campaign was launched by Justice Minister Claire Sugden earlier this week. A TV and cinema advert highlights the dangers of buying counterfeit goods by showing how money spent on fake items lines the pockets of organised criminals. Ulster Unionist Mr Beggs said it did not address the violent acts committed by paramilitaries. He compared the ad to hard-hitting road safety adverts in Northern Ireland. “I have to say I thought the … Continue reading →

Sympathy has been expressed after a woman lost her life in a single vehicle road traffic collision this morning in north Antrim. Police have confirmed that the woman died from injuries she sustained in a collision on the Moycraig Road in Ballymoney. McAuley Multimedia 14th March 2019…The scene at the Moycraig Road Mosside in North Antrim where there has been what appears to be a single vechicle RTC. A PSNI spokesman said the collision happened just before 8.25am between Mosside and Dervock. The spokesman added that woman, the only occupant of a Black Vauxhall Corsa, had been taken to hospital for treatment, but passed away. Inspector O’Brien would appeal to anyone who was travelling on the Moycraig Road this morning and who witnessed the collision or saw the black Vauxhall Corsa involved prior to the collision to contact local officers in Coleraine or the Collision Investigation Unit on 101 quoting … Continue reading →

East Antrim Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs has condemned those behind an attack which damaged property and two vehicles in Millbrook. In a statement, Mr. Beggs said: “Whoever was responsible for the attack in the early hours of Sunday morning is to be condemned for their reckless actions. “If you have any information that would help the PSNI with their investigations into this attack, I would urge you to call 101 quoting reference 369 24.3.19. Alternatively, you can call the anonymous Crimestoppers number on 0800 555 111.” Parliamentary reports show first speaker only – follow this lnk for the full transcription. Articles may come from parliamentary reports, various public news feeds and Google News Search. Content is republished here for context. Copyright is respected and remains with the original author at all times. Original Article:https://www.larnetimes.co.uk/news/beggs-condemns-millbrook-attack-as-reckless-1-8862942