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The newly reappointed Stormont Health Minister is to be urged by a cross party council delegation to reinstate emergency general surgery at a Newry hospital.
General surgery was temporarily suspended from the Daisy Hill in early 2022, with the Department of Health, permanent secretary, Peter May recently confirming the permanent move to Craigavon, due to a shortage of general surgery consultants at Daisy Hill.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC) approved a motion this week to lobby Minister Robin Swann to reverse the emergency surgery decision.
Newry SDLP rep, Killian Feehan bringing forward the motion, said: “We now have a restored Assembly and a Health Minister in post.
“The council will write to the Health Minister Robin Swann requesting that he receive a cross party delegation from council to face due scrutiny on the decision to remove emergency general surgery from Daisy Hill.”
He added: “I think that it is now more important than ever for us as a council to present a strong and united opposition to this decision…to urge the Health Minister to reverse the decision made by the permanent secretary last month.”
Mournes DUP cllr, Glyn Hanna told the chamber that his party would be supporting the motion as “there is little enough in south Down without losing any sort of services”.
However, Rowallane DUP member, Callum Bowsie abstained from the vote on the motion.
Slieve Gullion Sinn Fein rep, Aoife Finnegan added: “The decision to remove emergency services from Daisy Hill permanently, has been deeply disappointing and has undoubtedly caused real concern across our district particularly for those living in more rural areas.
“The near collapse of services in the hospital just last year has impacted public confidence in the Southern Trust and Department for Health.
“It is essential that real efforts are made to continue to rebuild the confidence of both staff and the public with real actions to secure the future of the hospital.
“It is now more important than ever that the Health Minister sets out what his plans are to deliver for Daisy Hill and to ensure the people of Newry, Mourne and Down will have access to vital services in the long term.”
The chamber heard from Alliance Slieve Croob rep, Andrew McMurray that his party would be abstaining from the vote stating that the matter should be “raised through Stormont” by MLAs.
Slieve Gullion UUP rep, David Taylor said: “Obviously my party colleague, Robin Swann has taken on the role from Saturday past.
“He is going to have many pressures from this role and I don’t think that any of us should try to underestimate that.
“We all have our local issues that we wish to push progress on and I have my own concerns about the removal of emergency services from Daisy Hill.
“He (Robin Swann) will have many things on his desk on the days and weeks ahead, and will include some of the local issues raised here tonight.”
He added: “I have no issue with a cross party delegation going to meet the minister.
“I want to see a long term strategic plan for Daisy Hill, its potential and further development.”
The Motion - Cllr Killian Feehan
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council strongly opposes the decision by the Department of Health's Permanent Secretary to withdraw emergency general surgery from Daisy Hill Hospital and will write to the Permanent Secretary requesting that he appear before a special meeting of the Council to face due scrutiny on his decision. Council reaffirms its position that major decisions on the future of Daisy Hill can and should only be made by a Health Minister who is accountable to the public, and calls upon an incoming Health Minister to reinstate emergency general surgery at Daisy Hill Hospital with immediate effect.
