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Tag Archives: UUP
Ulster Unionists oppose potential permanent closure of City Hospital A&E
Ulster Unionist Health spokesperson, Roy Beggs MLA has reiterated his Party’s opposition to the closure of the City Hospital’s A&E unit, following the Health Minister’s statement today (Tuesday) in which he stated the preferred option would see the permanent closure of the unit. Roy said: … “When the Minister first announced that he was temporarily closing the Accident and Emergency unit at Belfast City Hospital, the Ulster Unionist Party warned of the dire consequences this decision would have should he not give the surrounding hospitals the support they needed to deal with the influx of extra patients.” “Our concerns have been confirmed by the steep drop in the number of patients being seen within the four hour target at the Royal Victoria and Mater Hospitals over the last three months of 2012. In December 2012 the percentage of patients waiting four hours or less sat at 65.7% in the Royal … Continue reading
Posted in Health Committee, Press Releases
Tagged A&E, Beggs, DHSSPS, NHS, Poots, UUP
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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
Beggs Calls for Calm after Carrickfergus Street Violence
Roy Beggs MLA has echoed the view of his Party Leader, Mike Nesbitt that recent street violence is damaging the community and the image of Northern Ireland, and that politics must be seen to work rather than violence on our streets. Roy Beggs said, “What would the Queen or the Baron of Carrickfergus make of the recent violence on our streets? I would urge everyone to give dialogue and politics a chance. The Unionist Forum allows for all unionists to engage and for issues of concern to be taken forward and worked on at a political level. It is clear that when protest is brought onto our streets at this time, things can easily get out of control and violence can erupt. Police Officers, protestors or ordinary citizens could easily be injured and young people could end up with a criminal record, reducing their future prospects. The violence has also adversely affecting … Continue reading
Posted in Press Releases
Tagged Beggs, Carrickfergus, Flag, PSNI, Unionist Forum, UUP
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False Stories Spread on Social Media Heightening Community Tensions.
Local UUP MLA Roy Beggs has highlighted the inaccurateand provocative nature of an online media report on the ‘Belfast Daily’ Website, which is heightening community tensions. The news website falsely claimed that 200 Garda officers were being drafted in to bolster PSNI numbers in riot situations. http://www.belfastdaily.co.uk/2013/01/06/revealed-psni-hire-200-garda-officers-to-put-down-loyalist-rebellion/ The East Antrim MLA explained: “My office and indeed other offices belonging to Ulster Unionist Party colleagues have been contacted by people very concerned at reports published online stating that the PSNI had drafted in the Garda riot squad, under what is a deliberately provocative headline. Completely unnamed ‘security sources’ are quoted as the basis of this ‘story’ which has been spread on social media. My party colleague Ross Hussey who is a member of the Policing Board, has raised this issue with the PSNI and has been told emphatically that this report is completely false and has no basis in fact. I … Continue reading
Courthouse Closure a Blow to Larne
Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs Jnr has expressed his disappointment that Larne is one of 4 Courthouses to be closed across Northern Ireland as a cost cutting measure by Justice Minister David Ford. Mr Beggs, the only East Antrim MLA to personally respond to the public consultation document earlier in the year commented; “Confirmation that Larne Courthouse will be closed sadly comes as no surprise. There have been successive plans to close the Courthouse and centralise justice services elsewhere over the years. In the past however, local representatives – led by the former MP had been able to convince the authorities not to go ahead. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo020417/halltext/20417h03.htm This time the consultation did prove to be merely cosmetic, and I believe the decision to close was taken long ago. Nevertheless I and my Ulster Unionist Party colleagues- who attended the public meeting in the Courthouse in the Spring- did at least make … Continue reading
