Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
We will ‘explore every option’ to keep A&E open
Trust to hold regional Hundreds protest in summit on 999 facility bid to maintain service
HEALTH chiefs vowed yesterday to “explore every option” to keep Daisy Hill Hospital’s A&E open. The move came after a heated meeting between South Trust officials and campaigners fighting to save the Newry facility’s ED from what they fear is permanent closure. Protesters, many carrying placards, descended on the Trust board meeting in Craigavon, Co Armagh, where there were some fiery exchanges. It followed warnings from the Trust that a temporary overnight closure of the ED could happen as a result of staff shortages. However, campaigners accused the Trust of not doing enough to recruit staff and claimed Daisy Hill’s fracture clinic is to be moved to Craigavon – a claim which was not answered. A decision had been expected at the meeting but afterwards the Trust said it had “agreed with the Department of Health to hold a regional summit on options to safely sustain the Emergency Department in Daisy Hill”.
COMMITTED
It added interim chief executive Stephen Mcnally “has asked the department to host the summit, which will be held early next week”. Mr Mcnally said: “The Trust Board is fully committed to Daisy Hill Hospital and will explore every option to keep the Emergency Department open, as long as services can be safely provided. “This summit will bring together the collective expertise of health professionals from across Northern Ireland to support our efforts in maintaining the service in future.” The summit is due to include the HSC Board, the Public Health Agency, Belfast Trust, the Ambulance Service, NI Medical and Dental Training Agency and the RQIA. The Save Daisy Hill group said it “welcomed” the move but warned the fight is far from over. Member Fiachra Fullerton added: “We’re not just angry, we have the facts and figures that prove our case and they can see that. “The running down of Daisy Hill bit by bit hasn’t stopped – it’s just a postponement. “They didn’t answer some questions but they have agreed to a meeting with five or six from our group to answer those quesrions and we welcome that.”
We’re not just angry, we have the facts and figures to prove case FIACHRA FULLERTON
IT’S a debate that’s been going on for decades – whether centralising health care in big hospitals is better for us all, regardless of where we live.
Twenty years ago they were talking about Downpatrick as the future of the Downe was called into question. Now, it’s Daisy Hill’s turn.
Of course, talk of the ED being closed temporarily at night is not part of some masterplan but due to staffing issues – at least that is what we are told.
However, many do not believe that. Campaigners say this is part of an agenda to concentrate services.
Doctors and consultants need plenty of patients to be specialists and they just don’t get them in smaller hospitals therefore they are not sustainable.
An ED, and other critical elements of a hospital, cannot operate without highly-qualified staff. And so it is downgraded bit by bit until it is gone.
But, if this is the agenda, will we be safer with these specialist units in Belfast, in Derry?
Is there some masterplan to radically overhaul the Ambulance Service so people suffering a stroke or car crash in Annalong are stabilised by a doctor before being taken to Craigavon? Is that part of the reasoning behind the Air Ambulance? Perhaps.
There’s a cart before the horse scenario here. Those running our health service need to answer questions so people truly know what lies ahead.