Murphy and Swann united in their determination to rebuild our health service

Date published: 15 January 2020

Finance Minister Conor Murphy and Health Minister Robin Swann today met to discuss the importance of a sustainable funding settlement for health and social care.

Mr Murphy said: “The Executive is united in its determination to rebuild our health service. That was evident yesterday with the decision to restore pay parity for nurses and other health staff.

“The New Decade, New Approach document detailed a new action plan on waiting times, reforms in health and social care and better support for victims of contaminated blood.

“That’s why we need a significant funding package from the British Government.

“We need to start repairing the damage to all public services caused by a decade of austerity.”

Mr Swann said: “I welcome the support of the Finance Minister and the Executive collectively for health.

“We have a massive task in front of us. There are competing demands for additional spending across many key areas.

“The Government needs to live up to the commitments it made in the New Decade New Approach document.

“As I said in the Assembly yesterday, if devolution is to deliver, it has to deliver for our health service.”