Bill to return health powers to Westminster launched
Lord Reg Empey wants powers transferred in Stormont's absence
A bill to return health powers to Westminster until an Executive returns to Northern Ireland has been launched.
Ulster Unionist peer Lord Reg Empey introduced the private members bill in the House of Lords.
It would see Westminster ministers making important healthcare decisions until Stormont is restored in Northern Ireland.
The move comes in the wake of most recent waiting time statistics.
The number of people waiting for more than 12 hours in our hospitals doubled in the last year while attendances to emergency departments continue to rise.
Mr Empey said Stormont cannot remain leaderless in the face of this crisis:
"All the statistics are going in the wrong direction and this has been going on quarter after quarter after quarter.
"How much more do people have to take?"