Ritchie Says Downpatrick Discriminated Against Over Jobs
11 January 2012 |
Posted by Jim Masson |
SOUTH Down MP Margaret Ritchie has made a scathing attack on the decision to move health service administration jobs from Downpatrick and said there was a serious lack of recognition given to the town as a Health Service location.
33 finance jobs are to be removed from the Downshire Hospital site and she has likened this decision by the Business Service Organisation as a gross act of "unconscious political discrimination"
Margaret Ritchie said today (WEdnesday 11 January),"Over the last couple of years the Business Service Organisation has given consideration to two centres for the provision of health service administration.
South Down MP Margaret Ritchie is concerned at the BSO decison to cut health jobs in Downpatrick.
"Given that Downpatrick has a long history associated with health service administration, the need to create a centre of public administration in this area and the political imperative to make this district a critical hub for employment, it was naturally thought that one of the Centres would be east of the Bann, and probably Downpatrick.
"The local economy in this area is dominated and driven by the public sector in job provision whether through the Council, Civil Service, education or health service administration.
Some few weeks ago, the Business Service Organisation revealed that there would be four proposed centres for health service administration.
"None of these Centres would be in Downpatrick, and in fact the south-eastern area and County Down were ignored. The proposal involved the removal of 33 finance jobs and their re-location in Ballymena. To me, this represents a gross act of unconscious political and geographical discrimination which, and if implemented, will stunt local job provision and creation in the health sector in this area.
"This proposal has been and will continue to be resisted by the local community. Whether, it is an unconscious or wilful act of political discrimination, it must be scrapped, and the situation must be rectified. Downpatrick must become a Business Centre Organisation location.
"The skills, expertise, and knowledge of the finance personnel staff in the health sector in this area must not be lost to another part of Northern Ireland. Local jobs must be sustained in Downpatrick for the south-eastern area.
Ms Ritchie said that Downpatrick must continue to be a centre of local public administration and that there must be no erosion of this position or loss of jobs for the area.
"All steps must be taken to support and provide for this form of employment. Nothing less will do or will be considered acceptable. The Minister for Health must now intervene to rectify the situation".
