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Jim Wells says no need for political interference over operations concern | Jim Wells says no need for political interference over operations concern |
(less than a minute earlier) | |
The health minister Jim Wells has told the BBC he believed there was no need for political interference during the recent hospital pressures in Northern Ireland. | The health minister Jim Wells has told the BBC he believed there was no need for political interference during the recent hospital pressures in Northern Ireland. |
He said this was as clinicians were getting on and doing the job. | He said this was as clinicians were getting on and doing the job. |
Mr Wells was speaking in his first interview since it emerged almost 200 operations would be postponed due to pressures on emergency departments. | Mr Wells was speaking in his first interview since it emerged almost 200 operations would be postponed due to pressures on emergency departments. |
He said there was not a problem and the public should feel reassured. | He said there was not a problem and the public should feel reassured. |
Mr Wells was attending a public lecture given by former Health Secretary and Labour MP Alan Johnson. | Mr Wells was attending a public lecture given by former Health Secretary and Labour MP Alan Johnson. |
The theme was the National Health Service at "66 and a half". | The theme was the National Health Service at "66 and a half". |
Current health problems both locally and nationally were discussed including the role of politicians within the service. | Current health problems both locally and nationally were discussed including the role of politicians within the service. |
When asked to respond to recent criticism about his apparent absence over the past fortnight, Mr Wells had this to say. | When asked to respond to recent criticism about his apparent absence over the past fortnight, Mr Wells had this to say. |
"I only need to make any public statement to the media when I believe there is a problem," he said. | "I only need to make any public statement to the media when I believe there is a problem," he said. |
"What I saw was people who were too busy dealing with the huge surge in demand and who did not have time to have me following them around and they were doing a great job. | "What I saw was people who were too busy dealing with the huge surge in demand and who did not have time to have me following them around and they were doing a great job. |
"And I was content they were getting through it and the statistics released last Friday showed we did get through it." | "And I was content they were getting through it and the statistics released last Friday showed we did get through it." |
During Wednesday's Stormont health committee session, officials said all cancelled operations would be dealt with within the next three to six weeks. | During Wednesday's Stormont health committee session, officials said all cancelled operations would be dealt with within the next three to six weeks. |
Some non-urgent operations in Northern Ireland did not go ahead this week as a result of ongoing pressures in emergency departments. | Some non-urgent operations in Northern Ireland did not go ahead this week as a result of ongoing pressures in emergency departments. |
Patients in the Belfast, South Eastern and Western health trusts have been affected. | Patients in the Belfast, South Eastern and Western health trusts have been affected. |
The public were notified in advance by letter or telephone. | The public were notified in advance by letter or telephone. |
All of Northern Ireland's five trusts cancelled some operations last week in one of a series of measures to tackle demands on the emergency system. | All of Northern Ireland's five trusts cancelled some operations last week in one of a series of measures to tackle demands on the emergency system. |