-
Please select facebook feed.
Tag Archives: Health
Residential Homes Closure Proposal Causing Uncertainty and Stress
Speaking about the local implications of the current proposals to shut the all the remaining Northern Trust Residential Homes local Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs commented: “This consultation has caused great short term uncertainty and stress for vulnerable residents and their families.” I have asked questions and made public comment at Stormont highlighting this issue since Transforming Your Care was published late in 2011. I also highlighted my concerns in my response to the consultation document. In the background I have been working with relatives of residents in the Lisgarel in Larne helping to establish a Friends of Lisgarel support group. That work is on-going Sadly, rather than acknowledge and address these concerns, Health officials and the Minster appear to want to accelerate the closure programme. From personal family experience over the past year, I have seen how vital respite and rehabilitation services have been provided at these Trust Residential … Continue reading
Posted in Health Committee, Press Releases
Tagged Beggs, Clonmore, DUP U turn, East Antrim, Greenisland House, Health, Joymount, Lisgarel, NHSST, Poots
Leave a comment
Still Greater Awareness of the Dangers of Smoking during Pregnancy needed: Beggs
On highlighting some local areas with over a third of all expectant mothers smoking, Ulster Unionist Health spokesperson, Roy Beggs MLA has said that a concentrated effort is needed to further increase awareness of the dangers of mothers smoking during pregnancy and during their children’s early years. Roy Beggs MLA said: “Protecting your baby from tobacco smoke is vital to ensuring they have a healthy start in life. The statistics available on the Children & Young People’s Strategic Partnership (CYPSP) website make for shocking reading. They reveal that in some wards in Northern Ireland the percentage of mums who smoke is as high as 55% in the Old Warren ward, Lisburn, despite the health risks to their children. Locally in my constituency of East Antrim, 41% of mothers in the Clipperstown ward smoke, and 39% of mothers in Sunnylands and Blackcave still smoke.” The Ulster Unionist member of the Health … Continue reading
Roy Questions Food Standards Agency on Horse Meat Issue
This week the Stormont Health committee received a briefing from the Food Standards Agency about the Horse Meant Scandal. Roy took the opportunity to question the officals:- Mr Beggs: It was touched on earlier that Northern Ireland has a very high level of traceability, perhaps the highest in the world. However, rogue traders and processors, whether in Europe or elsewhere, have put a bit of doubt in some minds at a cost to legitimate businesses. Do you agree that one of the ways of reducing risk factors is to keep the food chain as short as possible and that, to a degree, that means buying from a trusted local butcher? Ms Jennings: Mr Beggs, we have to look at the whole global food system, and we have to operate with what we have. We have to put checks and controls in place in that system to ensure that food can … Continue reading
Beggs calls on Health Minister to reaffirm commitment to plain packaging of tobacco products
The Ulster Unionist Party’s Health Spokesperson, Roy Beggs MLA, has called on Health Minister Edwin Poots to explain why his Party’s policy on plain packaging for tobacco products has changed. The East Antrim MLA made his comments after the DUP MPA, Ian Paisley Jnr, publically spoke out against the proposals. Roy Beggs said; “Last year the Ulster Unionist Party submitted a very favourable response to the consultation brought forward by the Department of Health in Westminster. This consultation exercise sought views on the proposal to require cigarette packs and other tobacco packaging to conform to a standardised format. If these proposals were to come into force then key branding features such as colours and font styles would be tightly regulated with a strict degree of conformity across brands.’ “In Northern Ireland approximately 1 in 4 people smoke, but consistent surveys and research reveals most people would like to stop were … Continue reading
Beggs promotes regular health checkups
Ulster Unionist Health spokesperson Roy Beggs has expressed his support for increased Health Checks provided by GPs in the management of health conditions to improve local primary treatment and lessen pressures on our A&E’s. Speaking in a debate at Stormont, the East Antrim MLA said: “In October, November and December 2012 not a single target set by the Health Minister in regard to A&E waiting times, was achieved by the consultant led A&E’s. It is clear that something needs to change. I challenged the Minister to explain why there has been a further 4% reduction to 71% of A&E patients being seen within 4hrs in Northern Ireland whilst almost every major A&E units in England, Scotland and Wales meet the 95% target. Clearly there is a need for improvements to our A&E facilities and hospital support services. There are too many patients arriving at our hospital emergency units with preventable … Continue reading
