Department of Health calls for debate on removal of hospital services to be 'respectful'

In a statement the DoH said "The Department of Health would ask for respectful public debate on the future of health and social care services. Communities rightly value local services very highly and are fully entitled to strongly advocate for their retention.

"However, vigorous debate should not spill over into personal abuse and vilification. Likewise, questioning the honesty or motivations of public officials is not acceptable.

"It is a reality of modern medicine that every hospital in Northern Ireland cannot provide every hospital service."

The statement continues "Some medical specialties require larger catchment areas and a certain level of patient numbers. This facilitates greater specialisation by clinicians, better recruitment and retention of staff, and more durable and safer care.

"Securing the optimum distribution of hospital services – the right care, in the right place, at the right time – is an extremely difficult and challenging task".

The statement also contained a link to the Northern Ireland wide general surgery review published by the Department last June - www.health-ni.gov.uk