She was speaking after an announcement from the Health Minister today (5 June), following a recent report outlining bullying allegations in the cardiac surgery unit.
The North Belfast MLA said: “Long before these deeply worrying allegations came to light, my colleague Danny Donnelly and I have consistently raised concerns around a lack of accountability in the Trusts through Health Committee, and called for greater involvement from the Department of Health.
“With that in mind, news that the highest level of accountability and oversight measures in the Belfast Trust have been instigated is a positive step in the right direction. However, I remain concerned at the lack of clarity around what Level 5 measures look like, exactly what role the Department of Health will play, and the specifics of arrangements going forward.
“This is why I have asked the Health Minister to come to the Assembly Chamber on Monday to answer questions from MLAs and explain exactly what Level 5 of the department’s performance accountability process entails.
“Whether it is allegations of bullying within the Belfast Trust, the cervical smear scandal and urology review in the Southern Trust, or a lack of respite and residential provision in the South Eastern Trust, the Department of Health must take a more active role in ensuring the highest levels of accountability and transparency are maintained across all five Health and Social Care Trusts.
“It’s the least that patients deserve.”