Judicial Review to be Lodged following Trusts decision to Move Daisy Hill Maternity Services

The Southern Trust have rubber stamped their decision to remove maternity services from Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry to Craigavon Hospital from 23 November. The decision which Trust insist is 'temporary' was made at a long and winding Trust Board meeting at its Monaghan Row office. Just like the road from Newry to Portadown/Craigavon, which expectant mothers will have to take in just 20 days time, there were many hazards discussed by those who asked for speaking rights while the twists and turns of the decision were justified by the Board.

A total of ten people had asked for speaking rights at the meeting but ultimately all the talk in the world made no difference to the decision the trust confirmed in a press release shortly after the meeting.

A spokesperson explained: "The Southern Trust Board has confirmed that births and inpatient maternity care will temporarily consolidate at Craigavon Area Hospital from 23 November 2026, while efforts continue to recruit consultant obstetricians for Daisy Hill Hospital."

Judicial Review to be Lodged

Speaking at the meeting Eddy Curtis from SOS Daisy Hill said that if the decision was ratified today a young pregnant woman would lodge a Judicial Review at 4pm calling for a delay of the decision.

Dáire Hughes Newry and Armagh MP wanted "iron clad" commitments that "temporary is temporary", spoke of health inequalities, ambulance cover concerns and queried "Where is the Community Treatment Centre" the area has been waiting for. He also spoke of "intolerable levels of stress and anxiety" for expectant mothers.

Dianne Dodds, Upper Bann MLA and Dianne Forsythe, South Down MLA spoke of their concerns about adding an under pressure service from Daisy Hill to an already under pressure service at Craigavon Hospital which would see almost a quarter of all births in the north taking place there explaining that the decision could be "life or death for many mothers".

Justin McNulty, Newry and Armagh MLA spoke of the strength of anger in the local community saying that the proposal was "not acceptable" and wanted to know "how will patient safety not be compromised for mothers in labour, who may be experiencing complications, being forced to drive an extra hour on bad roads to get to the hospital?" or what happens when a woman presents to Daisy Hill Emergency Department in advanced labour, with an imminent birth or with a serious obstetric emergency.

James Large from Unison said "consolidation doesn't solve problems - It simply moves them elsewhere". He wanted to know why Daisy Hill now needs 8 Consultants when it previously operated with less. He then handed over several files containing 13,000 signatures but again it didn't change the decision.

Francis Gallagher and Eddy Curtis from SOS Daisy Hill explained that the decision is like lighting a slow burning fuse to a powder keg. The displacement of Maternity services from Newry will send expectant mothers to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast and Ulster Hospital, Dundonald and Drogheda as well as Craigavon. "Hospitals will implode" Gallagher explained. Curtis said he believed "consultants are running the show" and that "mothers and babies are going to lose their lives"

Shauna Kerr said the public must be given clear information around the proposals.

Liam Reichenberg, Aontu said the decision reflected a failure of Trust and political leadership. "You have to find solutions - you have failed"

Daniel Connolly said there was a breakdown in trust and asked for all concerned to "Put trust back into Social Care Trust"

Marc Mac Seáin, People Before Profit spoke of a likely "service collapse" and spoke of the necessity for cross border planning.

Claire Myers from the Royal College of Midwives for the Southern Trust area spoke of how the staff in Daisy Hill are a "special bunch" and that local women were devastated at the pending decision. She also spoke of the 9 hours a week midwives will additionally have to spend in their cars travelling to Craigavon.

Decision Day

Announcing the decision Trust Chief Executive Steve Spoerry said: “Despite extensive efforts across the regional Health and Social Care system, we have not been able to secure the consultant obstetric workforce needed to safely maintain inpatient maternity services at Daisy Hill Hospital and renew the current rota.

“The Trust Board has therefore agreed that births and inpatient maternity care will temporarily consolidate at Craigavon Area Hospital from Monday 23 November 2026, in order to protect the safety of women and babies.”

The Trust have said the service has been under significant workforce pressure following the retirement and resignation of several consultant obstetricians and that despite sustained national and international recruitment efforts, it has been unable to fill the vacancies, reflecting a wider shortage across Northern Ireland and the UK.  They add that up to five additional permanent consultants are required to provide a safe and sustainable service at Daisy Hill Hospital.

Spoerry added: “Our overriding priority has always been the safety of women and babies, and ensuring that every woman has access to safe, responsive maternity care.

Speaking in-depth at the meeting he continued “We deeply appreciate the strong public support for local maternity services and recognise how important they are to women, families and the wider community. We understand the concern this situation is causing and are grateful to everyone who has shared their views, ideas and feedback, including women and families, staff, trade unions, community groups and elected representatives.

“Our intention remains to restore inpatient maternity services at Daisy Hill Hospital, provided that we can recruit and retain sufficient clinical expertise to support a safe and sustainable service.

“We greatly appreciate the continued efforts of our HSC and Health Service Executive partners to find solutions. However, as sufficient cover has not been secured, we will now implement the continuity plan developed with teams at both hospitals and our regional partners from 23 November."

Spoerry concluded: “I want to thank our maternity team for their professionalism and the compassionate care they continue to provide in these difficult circumstances. They are doing everything possible to support women and families as the temporary arrangements are put in place.”

The Southern Trust have said that Maternity staff are contacting women who are due to give birth at Daisy Hill Hospital on or after 23 November. Anyone who has concerns and has not yet been contacted should speak to their midwife or call the maternity information line on 028 3756 1325, Monday to Friday, from 2.00pm to 5.00pm.