Patients need a minister for health, not a minister for half an hour: McLaughlin

Sinn Féin Foyle MLA Maeve McLaughlin has called on former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) health minister Simon Hamilton to get back to work and put the needs of users of the health service before his party’s “electoral squabble” with the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP).

Ms McLaughlin (pictured), chairperson of the Stormont Health Committee, said: “Simon Hamilton went to work briefly yesterday before resigning once again and fleeing his responsibilities.

"Patients and health service users need a minister for health, not a minister for half an hour.”

Ms McLaughlin accused the former health minister of being “clearly more engaged in stunt politics” than working to meet the needs of all users of the health services.

She concluded: “Mr Hamilton also continues to peddle the shameful nonsense that we should take money out of the pockets of children with disabilities and adults with severe disabilities to fund the health service.”