'Bear with us' - NI health chief urges nurses to get behind 10-year plan - but warns against strike action
Richard Pengelly says they are "working as hard as they can" in making the appropriate changes to the service
The man in charge of Northern Ireland’s health service has appealed to nurses to 'work with him' as the department continues with a major transformation plan.
Permanent Secretary Richard Pengelly, who is responsible for pushing through reform in the absence of fully functioning Stormont, is warning that without significant change the entire system will collapse.
His comments come after new Royal College of Nursing NI director, Pat Cullen, warned nurses could go on strike across Northern Ireland over a “perfect storm” of issues impacting on our crisis-hit health service.
Mr Pengelly told Downtown & Cool FM: " We are working as hard as we can to alleviate the pressures nurses are under and the way we will alleviate these pressures is through our transformation journey."
But, he says there is no money to boost nurses' wages in the short term.
"We are continuing our dialogue with the unions," he said. "One of the things I am trying to do is to continue to explain to the unions that I can only play the hand I have been dealt.
"I don't have a three-year fianancial settlement so therefore I can't make long-term financial commitments.
"I need to have due regard and respect for decisions previously taken by ministers.
"And I can only do the things that I have legitimate authority to do so."