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Daisy Hill Hospital has been under intense scrutiny over the past number of years from everyone in the community of Newry and Mourne. On Friday a report has been published by the Daisy Hill Hospital Expert Panel which was set up last summer to work with the Southern Health and Social Care Trust on stabilisation plans for the hospital and to make recommendations for the future.
Some of the findings in the report say, “The stability of the medical workforce in General Medicine has improved over the last 6 months, bolstered by doctors from the Trust’s international recruitment initiative.”
The report also recognises the “increased number of patients that are being treated at Daisy Hill’s Regional Elective Overnight Surgical Centre with the panel encouraging expansion at pace in paediatrics and other surgical specialities.”
In addition, the report mentions the significant impact of the new MRI scanner and how this tool is reducing the need for patient transfers to Craigavon Hospital.
Southern Trust Chief Executive, Dr Maria O’Kane said: “The aim of this process has been to find a sustainable way forward for Daisy Hill Hospital, its patients and staff. Ensuring patient safety and supporting our staff have been our priorities.”
Dr Maria O’Kane continued “We sincerely thank Mairead as Chair and all of the panel members for their expertise, commitment and diligence in finding workable solutions to the challenges that have faced Daisy Hill Hospital.
Dr Maria O’Kane also said, “Whilst there has been positive progress in stabilising medical staffing and acute inpatient medicine at Daisy Hill, rising demand for services, workforce and finance remain as very serious challenges across the Southern Trust and Health and Social Care regionally.”
Dr Maria O’Kane finished by saying, “The Trust is contributing to the regional hospital configuration blueprint project led by the Department of Health and we have also started the journey of developing our new long term corporate vision and strategy for the organisation. We continue to develop and promote Daisy Hill as a key acute hospital throughout this process.”
The independent Expert Panel Members who worked alongside senior clinical and leadership Trust staff were:
Mairead McAlinden- Chair/Independent Advisor
Dr Arnie McDowell- Independent Advisor
Dr John Harty- Independent Advisor
Dr Seamus Murphy- Independent Advisor
Mr Seamus O’Reilly- Independent Advisor
Dr Donal Duffin- Independent Advisor
Dr Gavin Lavery- Critical Care Advisor
Karl Hughes- Wellbeing Action Partnership and Mental Health Advisor
Brian O’Hagan- Involvement Advisor
