Rebuilding health service our biggest task, insists Swann
REBUILDING the health service, economy and society from the devastation wreaked by Covid-19 is the biggest challenge currently facing Northern Ireland, the Health Minister has said.
As he made the case for a gradual easing of the lockdown at the Department of Health’s weekly Press conference, Robin Swann said the current financial uncertainty and the fragile nature of the health service before the pandemic hit has left the system in an extremely precarious position.
“We have been through a lot together over the past 12 months and the pandemic has left lasting scars on families and communities, and while we can see better times ahead we still need to maintain our efforts to stop Covid-19 spreading,” he said.
“This isn’t over yet. This virus thrives on complacency, it seizes on carelessness and it multiplies when we let our guard down. We still have much road left to travel, so now is not the time to turn back or sit down mid-journey, so let’s each of us complete that journey and let’s complete it together.
“We can’t jump the gun, we must not stumble when we can see the finishing line so close in the distance. I don’t want to be back here in the spring or early summer commentating on another Covid surge or on our hospitals filling up or our staff being exhausted and in despair.”
The minister said he did not want to have to propose yet further restrictions at that point.
And he said “there is always a danger when we discuss any easing of restrictions”, as “some people will jump to the conclusion that the danger has passed, that this is over or nearly over — because we are not there yet”.
“Easing our way out of lockdown was never going to be easy or straightforward, it is finely balanced and hugely difficult decisions that are required.
“I would rather be too cautious than reckless, especially when we know the damage and heartache that this virus can bring. I don’t want to look a grieving family or a devastated health worker in the eye and say sorry because we opened up too quickly.
“The pandemic has taught us that we need to care for our health service much better than we have. It was already in a bad way well before the ravages of the past 12 months. Getting it back up and running properly with the Covid threat still lurking will be a long-term undertaking and there will be no overnight or easy fixes.”
He said this will be more difficult due to an “already badly stretched budget, we have appalling waiting lists and well-documented pressures in social care and in mental health”.
“The past year has rightly been described as the biggest challenge of our lifetimes and there is another one waiting for us: rebuilding our health service, our economy and society and making them better for all our citizens.
“We can do it but it will take a unity of purpose, a unity of message and a collective determination, and it will need everyone pulling and working in the same direction.”
Mr Swann’s comments came as a further two Covid-19 deaths and 260 new cases were announced, while there were 335 Covid inpatients, of which 44 were in intensive care.
While we are emerging from the latest surge, chief medical officer Dr Michael Mcbride has warned the number of new daily cases remains “stubborn” and appears to have plateaued.
Meanwhile, Mr Swann has also announced plans to increase asymptomatic testing programmes.