Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Dorries does tribunal deal
Medicine stocks low due to £20m funding cut
TORY MP Nadine Dorries avoided having to face an employment tribunal by agreeing an out of court deal with her former PA.
Andrea Gordon, 63, planned to sue Dorries, 61, for unfair dismissal and disability discrimination.
The tribunal in Watford, scheduled to last four days, was called off after both parties agreed to a “withdrawal” and “dismissal”. PHARMACISTS can’t afford to keep normal stocks of medicine with many on the verge of closure because of chronic underfunding, it was claimed yesterday.
Around 100 community pharmacists from Northern Ireland met in Belfast to express their “anger and frustration” after five months of campaigning got them nowhere.
They blame the Department of Health’s “lack of progress in addressing the funding crisis” despite a direct appeal to Permanent Secretary Richard Pengelly and said it is underfunded “by at least £20million”.
Leading Belfast Community Pharmacist Paul Savage said: “Consistent underfunding means myself and my community pharmacy colleagues everywhere cannot afford to keep normal stocks of medicines, which shows how grave the situation is.
“It is completely unacceptable and unjust that we have been forced to subsidise the provision of an essential healthcare service due to this lack of funding.”
They said the threat to their vital service will hit the most vulnerable hardest. CPNI chief Gerard Greene said: “The contractors we represent are adamant this stand-off cannot continue. They are at breaking point.”
He has called for reimbursement, investment and “clear and fair” remuneration.
A Department of Health spokesman said: “That dialogue is ongoing and despite welldocumented pressures on the health budget, the Department and HSCB are actively working to finalise those discussions and establish new contractual arrangements for community pharmacy in Northern Ireland.”