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Political representatives as well as the Daisy Hill Future Group have all released statements today citing mismanagement in the Southern Trust, potential service removals at Daisy Hill Hospital and a suggestion that the current crisis in the NI Health service will result in unnecessary deaths.
There is a concern that services could potentially collapse at Daisy Hill and that Craigavon Hospital would not have sufficient capacity to deal with that.
The Southern Trust released their own statement announcing that as of now acute stroke patients are being diverted to Craigavon Hospital but it left quite a few questions unanswered. Newry.ie contacted the Trust today for comment on possible loss of services at the hospital but no comments were forthcoming.
Stroke patients diverted to Craigavon
The Southern Trust Statement read "Due to insufficient senior consultant cover at Daisy Hill and to immediately protect patient safety, all acute stroke patients are now being diverted to Craigavon Area Hospital.
"Following the May Trust Board meeting where the major issues in recruitment and retention of medical staff, particularly at Daisy Hill Hospital were outlined, the Senior Leadership Team has met with other Trusts, Department of Health, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and the Northern Ireland Medical and Dental Training Agency."
Aim to stabilise staff for summer months
Southern Trust Chief Executive Dr Maria O’Kane explained that a Type 1 24/7 Emergency Department would be maintained and that they are focusing on stabilising staffing at the hospital over the summer. Ms O'Kane said: “We greatly welcome the continued support of regional colleagues during this difficult time and are working with other Trusts to identity potential medical staffing support.
“We now have a regionally agreed interim plan, developed with the support of our medical team which we have shared with all staff and have appointed a Chief Operating Officer for the Daisy Hill site. Ensuring patient safety, supporting our staff’s psychological safety, maintaining a Type 1 24/7 Emergency Department at Daisy Hill and providing alternatives to hospital admission close to home remain our absolute priorities. Our initial focus aims to stabilise staffing for the summer months in anticipation of a more permanent solution.
“We are ambitious for Daisy Hill and continue to work at pace to progress new models of care which aim to prevent and reduce inpatient medical admissions and develop more same day emergency care options.
“Understandably some staff at Daisy Hill and also Craigavon are anxious about the anticipated changes to our acute hospital network. A Trustwide approach, involving staff from both sites is integral to addressing our current issues and everyone’s contribution is greatly welcomed.
“Whilst there may be changes to the way we all work, there is a job and work for everyone and indeed many opportunities through these new, innovative ways of working.
“Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mental Health and Disability services continue to operate as usual and we continue to develop our plans to build on elective surgical activity.
“As always we welcome all feedback and the support of our local community and political partners as we progress our plans to stabilise services and keep patients safe.”
Deep Systematic Crisis
The Daisy Hill Hospital Future Group released a statement saying the current crisis at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry is reflective of the deep systematic crisis in the Northern Ireland health service which will result in unnecessary deaths. The group is calling for emergency meetings with the Department of Health Permanent Secretary Peter May, the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Sir Michael McBride and the senior management of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust. They are also demanding immediate intervention to ensure that acute in-patient medical care can continue to be delivered at Daisy Hill Hospital to the large and growing population of Newry City, South Armagh and South and Mid-Down.
The statement read "Service collapse at Daisy Hill would have huge implications for the whole of the Northern Ireland healthcare system. Thousands of patients would have to be diverted to other hospitals already struggling to manage serious overcrowding, staff shortages, inadequate resourcing, and a lack of beds. An already overstretched NI Ambulance Service would be unable to handle the additional work which would result. NI Ambulance Service has already highlighted concerns about its current ability to meet minimum response times in southeast Ulster."
Dr Conor Patterson Chair of the Daisy Hill Hospital Future Group said “The engagement to date with those tasked with making these decisions has been disingenuous and misleading. On the one hand we are being told they are doing all they can to recruit to Daisy Hill Hospital while on the other hand they are walking staff out the door generating extremely negative PR and crashing the morale of staff who have given everything to the hospital. If those with the responsibility for this crisis really wished to retain services at Daisy Hill they would be operating a rotation system between hospitals and taking other measures to recruit and retain staff.
“Daisy Hill is just the ‘tip of the iceberg’ and not just an issue for the people of this area. Downgrading services at the hospital simply adds to capacity issues elsewhere. It is our understanding that there is insufficient capacity in Craigavon Area Hospital or the Belfast Trust to accommodate patients who will not be able to get treatment at Daisy Hill. Service and safety will therefore be compromised for citizens right across the Southern Trust area and beyond as a result of these short-sighted decisions.
“The prospect of a failure now to act decisively to restore Daisy Hill’s crucial role in the provision of acute medical care is too awful to contemplate because people will needlessly die. An immediate rescue plan is needed, and leadership is required. Daisy Hill is an asset which must be supported. If it isn’t it will initiate a domino effect of service collapse elsewhere across the Northern Ireland health service.”
'I don't care who gets the credit'
In his statement Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty was looking ahead and calling for Sinn Féin to commit to taking on the Health Ministry in any future Executive. Mr McNulty said “Sinn Féin are on the record stating their support for Daisy Hill Hospital. I want to take them at their word that they mean it. There is a time and a place for party politics, but this isn’t it. I don’t care who gets the credit for saving Daisy Hill, as long as our hospital is saved."
'Trust has been disingenuous and misleading'
MLA Conor Murphy added "Any collapse in local services will see pressure heaped on other hospitals across the north who are already under intense pressure.
"The current crisis has shown that the Southern Health Trust has been disingenuous and misleading in their engagement with those of us who have sought over a period of time to work constructively with the Trust to ensure Daisy Hill Hospital continues to meet the health needs of the community in the area. This is deeply concerning and undermines public confidence in the Trust."
'Lack of honest leadership'
Cllr Mark Gibbons added "The Southern Trust must prioritise Daisy Hill Hospital and stop treating it like a second class citizen.
"The complete lack of honest leadership and planning by the Trust has seen a number of consultants leave their posts. This may lead to the potential collapse of local services at Daisy Hill becoming a reality, that will cripple us all if not halted immediately."
