Deborah Erskine, DUP MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, has announced that she will not be returning to the Assembly on Monday after receiving a “health reality check”.
In a personal statement that she released on social media, she said she had to “step back from Stormont duties earlier than planned” due to medical advice she had received.
The statement said: “As many of you know, I and my husband are expecting our first baby — an exciting but also challenging time as I balance this new chapter with the demands of public life. Behind the scenes, I have had to reevaluate many things over the last 7-8 months to ensure I and my baby were healthy and happy.”
“While MLAs don’t have formal maternity leave (except a recent mechanism whereby I can allocate someone to vote on my behalf during Assembly votes), like any parent, I always intended to take time with my family after the birth of the baby, and now that will begin a little earlier,” she continued.
She also placed on record her thanks to the staff at the Lisnaskea Medical Centre, the South West Acute Hospital maternity staff, the Royal Victoria Hospital maternity unit and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS).
“All have been truly exceptional and made me more determined than ever to fight for our health service,” she said.
“Next week was due to look very different for me. I was meant to be going back to the Assembly Chamber after the summer recess to bring forward a motion on the issues of road maintenance, with my DUP colleagues and importantly hold to account the Health Minister regarding the SWAH.”
“I wanted to keep my promise, to the electorate that when Stormont got back after the summer that I would bring the issues around the Public Consultation on Emergency General Surgery to the floor of the Assembly Chamber. I was the only [Fermanagh South Tyrone] MLA to hold to that promise and lay down a motion for debate on this. However I am grateful that in my absence the DUP will take forward these things and make the case for our area.”
She also emphasised that she is not stepping down from her role and will “return to the Assembly when ready.”
