Pressure is mounting on McGimpsey following City Hospital outbreak

3.20.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 24th Apr 2008

Alliance Health Spokesperson Kieran McCarthy MLA

Alliance Health Spokesperson Kieran McCarthy MLA has stated that he is shocked that a cancer ward at Belfast City Hospital has been closed because of a vomiting bug. He said that pressure is now mounting on the Health Minister to demonstrate that his strategy to combat hospital bugs is actually working at all.

Kieran McCarthy MLA said: "This is an extremely worrying development.

"The Minister has a duty to maintain public confidence in our hospitals. He still needs to convince the public that he is able to deal with this issue decisively and effectively.

"It is damaging to the health service that a vital cancer treatment ward is now out of action because of this outbreak. This is not the first time this hospital has been hit by an outbreak, and the Minister needs to demonstrate how he will prevent incidents like this in future.

"Healthcare staff at the City Hospital do an excellent job but they must be given the assistance they need to maintain hygiene at the site. It is the Minister's responsibility to ensure that adequate resources are available to address this issue.

"Rightly, there is now much pressure on the Minister to show that the measures he is taking are working because today's revelations would suggest that they are not."

ENDS