'No quick fixes', says Health Minister

Health Minister Robin Swann said the task of increasing health service capacity was not helped by the lack of a budget in Northern Ireland.

He said: "The long-term challenge, as we all know, is to significantly increase capacity in the system though investment in people and technology and changing the way we deliver key services.

"That task is certainly not helped by the continuing absence of a Northern Ireland budget and the significant projected overspend facing my department.

"In a written statement to the Assembly in July, I said: 'Not long ago, patients and staff in Northern Ireland had the promise of a multi-year budget, with the potential for longer-term planning and sustained investment.

"As things stand at present, we have no budget at all. Prolonging this state of affairs would be tantamount to sabotaging the rebuilding of our health service'.

"Unfortunately, that state of affairs has very much continued."

Health Minister Robin Swann has said there is no quick fix to pressures being faced in hospitals in Northern Ireland.

Mr Swann said that pressures previously felt during winter peaks are now a "recurring theme" throughout the year.

He said: "This is not a problem that is unique to Northern Ireland.

"The Covid-19 pandemic has ravaged health systems that were already struggling under the weight of demographic change, budgetary limitations and staffing challenges.

"It is important to be honest with the public, these problems are long-standing and there is no quick fix. I would appeal to everyone to please use services appropriately.

"Get your Covid-19 and flu vaccination jabs if you are eligible and co-operate with hospital discharge processes to help free up beds for others."