Opposition To Health Promoting Agency Astonishing

John McCallister, Ulster Unionist MLA, and Spokesperson for Health, Social Services and Public Safety has described the DUP's position on the proposed Regional Agency for Public Health and Social Well Being as astonishing.

In the Assembly today the DUP tabled an amendment to the Health and Social Care (Reform) Bill which would have seen the creation of the Agency, blocked.

The amendment was opposed by all other parties in the Assembly as the DUP faced a resounding and humiliating defeat.

In a statement Mr. McCallister said: "To be honest I found the DUP's attempt to block the Regional Agency astonishing and in the end the opposition they faced from all Parties in the Assembly made them look foolish. This was a piece of political pageantry and opportunism that was doomed from the start."

"The most confusing aspect of it all was that the DUP Ministers on the Executive unanimously agreed to back the creation of a Regional Public Health Agency, but then the DUP Members on the Health committee opposed it. It must be asked, why the sudden change of heart? Was it through genuine concern or was it merely a headline grabbing issue? I think it is fair to say that the DUP need to stop playing politics with our health service."

Addressing the benefits the Regional Agency will bring Mr. McCallister said: "There are significant health inequalities in Northern Ireland - it is a sad reality that where you live has far too much of an impact on your health and social well being."

Mr McCallister said that the creation of a Regional Agency, will have a significant impact on the life chances and happiness of thousands of people.

"The Agency has been backed by many experts and health professionals. How can the DUP therefore disagree with this? Are the DUP now anti health promotion? Do DUP politicians honestly think they know better than the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Nursing Officer"

"The DUP are again showing a tendency towards centralised bureaucracy, which I believe is the totally wrong approach to take. We need to bring public health directly to the people, it is right we facilitate people to improve their mental and physical health.

"With the new a Regional Agency we will now be able to more readily address health inequalities by tackling problems before they need medical attention. Ever since the restoration of devolution the DUP has fought with the Health Minister on every possible occasion. Instead of working collectively they are attacking every new health proposal in a regrettable attempt to grab headlines - however, today I think they reached a new low. "