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Today’s proposals are an improvement over previous suggestions from the Trust and will help to stabilise the current crisis at Daisy Hill.
Organisers are calling for a massive turn out to the Daisy Hill Hospital Public Rally tomorrow, 25 June. The rally has been organised by the SOS Daisy Hill group and starts at 2pm at Marcus Square, Hill Street, Newry. The parade will then make its way up to Daisy Hill Hospital.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Cllr Valerie Harte says she will be standing side by side with residents from across the district at the rally.
Cllr Harte said, "As someone who has lived their whole life in Newry, I'm very concerned at proposals to reduce services at Daisy Hill Hospital. When I was elected as Chairperson of Council, I said that one of my priorities would be working to protect and promote services at Daisy Hill."
Cllr Harte continued "Daisy Hill Hospital is vital to us as a community and we must protect its services for all in this district. That's why I will be standing side by side with residents from across the district this Sunday, 25 June to show our support for Daisy Hill Hospital.
"You can be assured of my ongoing commitment to support Daisy Hill and to secure services for all citizens of Newry, Mourne and Down."
Sticking Plaster Solution
The Southern Trust held a meeting in Newry on Thursday past to discuss their plans to try and stabilise services at the hospital. Newry & Armagh MLA Justin McNulty was present and has called the proposals a 'sticking plaster solution'.
Mr. McNulty said “This is a sticking plaster solution for Daisy Hill Hospital to prevent the hospital from collapsing. It is not good enough and should not have come to this. People in this area should not have to go constantly to the health authorities with a begging bowl seeking equal access to vital services. It is just not good enough.
“What we need now is radical action. We need Sinn Fein to step up to the plate, to put their money where their mouth is and nominate a Health Minister Designate who will make it clear that on Day 1 in office they would move to restore services at Daisy Hill Hospital, and to reverse these cuts and expand our hospital for the future.
“Sinn Fein got more votes than any other party at the elections in May. People in this area are entitled to know what they are going to do with those votes. Sinn Fein have got their hands on the levers of power and I’m asking them to use that power to save our hospital. I do not care who gets the credit for saving Daisy Hill Hospital so long as our hospital is saved.”
Also attending the meeting was MLA Liz Kimmins who said the new proposals were an improvement but insists that there is still much work to be done.
Ms Kimmins said "We’ve met with both the head of the Health Department and the Trust many times in recent weeks pressing them to secure the best possible plan to secure services at the hospital.
"This crisis has come from the total failure in management by the Trust and while these proposals are a step in the right direction, they have much work to do in order to rebuild the confidence of both Hospital staff and the community.
"They must now demonstrate their commitment to securing the long term future of Daisy Hill in real actions, not just words. "
Free Bus
For anyone coming from Crossmaglen direction without transport Frontier Bus Hire have kindly agreed to put on a free bus to transport people to the Daisy Hill Rally on Sunday. The bus will be leaving Crossmaglen Square at 12 noon and stopping at: Fords Cross @ 12:15pm, Lislea Community Centre @ 12:35, Camlough (opposite Hughes’) @ 12:50. Arriving in Newry at 1pm
You can book a spot on the bus at www.eventbrite.co.uk
