Rathlin Island to benefit from improved medical care
Thursday, 28 August 2008
Health Minister Michael McGimpsey joins North Antrim politicians and a delegation of islanders to discuss full-time nursing cover for Rathlin Island.
RESIDENTS of Rathlin Island and its many visitors are to benefit from round-the-clock medical cover provide by two nurses and more regular visits from doctors.
Last Friday (August 22), Health Minister Michael McGimpsey visited the island to discuss the provision of healthcare services after an earlier request from North Antrim UUP MLA Rev Dr Robert Coulter.
Accompanied by Dr Coulter, North Antrim MLA, Moyle District Council Chairperson William Graham, Alderman James Simpson from Ballymoney Borough Council and Cllr Neil Armstrong from Ballymena Borough Council, the Health Minister met with Rathlin Island's nurse, Sister Nicola McGlinchey to discuss health care on the island.
Currently, there is a Monday to Friday 24 hour medical cover on the island with nursing services at weekends being provided by the Northern Health and Social Care Trust core nursing teams.
The Minister met representatives of the Rathlin Development Community Association, giving him the opportunity to hear and see at first hand the existing healthcare provision for the island.
He paid tribute to Nurse McGlinchey, who he said, "provides an essential service and is greatly valued by the island community."
Recognising the need for full time cover, not just for the island's 75 residents, but for the increased number of people over the tourism season, he added: "I am anxious that my Department should continue to work with residents, political representatives and healthcare professionals in the Board and Trust to ensure that healthcare services provided for the island meet the needs of the population both now and in the future."
Welcomed
The introduction of 24/7 nursing cover for Rathlin Island has been "warmly welcomed" by two leading North Antrim Ulster Unionists, Rev Dr Robert Coulter MLA and Mr Robin Swann, who was also on the island to meet with the Health Minister.
In a joint statement issued after the Rathlin talks with the Minister and islanders, Rev Dr Coulter and Mr Swann said: "Friday's meeting on Rathlin was the culmination of a five-year campaign to ensure that the full-time nursing cover for the islanders was the same as the rest of the mainland North Antrim constituency.
“Minister McGimpsey gave an assurance to our cross-community political delegation and representatives of the islanders that 24/7 nursing cover would be introduced as soon as possible, bringing access to full-time nursing cover into line with the rest of the constituency."
Dr Coulter paid tribute to the existing nursing cover on the island but said the uniqueness of Rathlin and the tens of thousands of visitors it attracts each year demonstrated how around the clock medical cover was needed.
