New health funding marks victory for Stormont campaigners

Alliance Health Spokesperson Kieran McCarthy MLA has hailed the health funding announcement from Michael McGimpsey today as a victory for the campaigners who protested at the lack of improvements in mental health and learning disability services at a rally he organised last month. He organised the demonstration at Stormont along with the Equal Lives group.

The Strangford MLA said: “This is victory for the protest we organised last month at Stormont calling for improved learning disability and mental health services.

“I am pleased that the Minister has announced funding for the building of mental health facilities in Foster Green, North Belfast and for the replacement of services at Muckamore Abbey. The Minister, however, still needs to do much more to implement the Bamford Review, but this announcement is a big step in the right direction.

“These moves are part of a process to provide better mental health and learning disability services and I will be keeping the pressure on the Minister to implement Bamford’s findings quickly.”

ENDS