McNulty - Hospitals Need to be Recognised as Vital Lifelines for Community

Newry & Armagh MLA has insisted that both Daisy Hill and Craigavon Area Hospitals must be recognised as a vital lifelines for the community.

Mr. McNulty was speaking during an Assembly debate on the redevelopment of Craigavon Area Hospital.

Newry & Armagh MLA Justin McNulty said: “Craigavon Area Hospital is a vital hub for healthcare in the Southern Trust, providing essential services to 250,000 people across Counties Armagh, Tyrone, Down and Antrim. That is a quarter of a million people whose health needs rely on Craigavon Area Hospital as a first port of call, and we are eternally grateful for the service provided by the often-overburdened staff at Craigavon.

“Despite the completion of a master plan for the redevelopment of Craigavon Area Hospital in 2016, we have seen little progress in the years since. That delay is simply unacceptable.

“I want to emphasise that it is not just Craigavon Area Hospital that requires our attention.  Daisy Hill Hospital plays an equally pivotal role in the health and well-being of people in the Southern Trust area.  Daisy Hill has been under increasing pressure for years, and it is time that we recognised the need for greater investment and support for Daisy Hill Hospital as well.  We need to see ambition for Daisy Hill Hospital, and I want to see it become a hub hospital, serving its natural hinterland on a cross-border basis.

“If we are to provide a healthcare system that is fit for the future and meets the growing demands of our communities, we need to ensure that funding is allocated fairly across all Trust areas and, indeed, within Trust areas.  Craigavon Area Hospital can become a better hospital if Daisy Hill Hospital is supported to become a better hospital.

“Healthcare is a fundamental right, and we owe it to the people of the North to provide them with the best possible care. Our communities deserve nothing less.”