Ms Hanna welcomed additional resource to address pressures in a range of departments but said that no bid from the Department of Health would leave many staff and patients shocked.

She said:

“The reallocation of resources to address pressures in a range of departments is, of course, welcome. Additional funding for schools to support special educational needs provision and further resources to address the significant deficit facing transport provision can make a real difference.

“I am shocked, however, that given the very serious crisis in our health service and the significant winter pressures facing doctors, nurses and other frontline staff, that there was no bid for additional resource from the Department of Health.

“This week GPs in Northern Ireland called for politicians to do the job we were elected to do - with the Royal College of General Practitioners Northern Ireland calling for urgent action to address GP shortages to protect patient care and services.

“The Ambulance Service, Fire Service and other frontline services under the Department of Health could have benefitted from additional resource. It’s clear that our Health Service needs strategic political leadership. That can only come from a local Minister in place, taking tough decisions and advancing the transformation plan.

“Parties need to get together to address these issues immediately.”