Write a commentLocal political representatives have been meeting with Southern Area Trust representatives amidst fears that Daisy Hill Hospital Emergency Department could lose it's 24 hour facility.
Newry Armagh MP, Mickey Brady led a Sinn Fein delegation to meet the Trust following their announcement that Daisy Hill may lose its night time Emergency Department service due to unavailability of senior staff.
Speaking after the meeting Mr Brady said " It is our view that the Southern Trust do have sufficient senior staff to cover both Daisy Hill and Craigavon on a 24 hour basis, they need to manage their workforce to ensure there is no threat to service. We are aware that Craigavon Hospital has redirected ambulances away from its Emergency Department on numerous occasions in recent months as it was unable to cope with the volume of patients. There is no logic to the Trust considering a reduction of service in Daisy Hill when Craigavon is already over stretched.
"We also raised the issue of putting a cap on locum pay for consultants to encourage full time staff rather than unsustainable temporary arrangements."
Concluding Mr Brady stated " The proposal to close night time Emergency Department services in Daisy Hill Hospital must be resisted by all who value the excellent service it provides. We will continue to work with staff, unions and the public to ensure that Daisy Hill Hospital services are protected and expanded. We will be meeting again with the Trust in the coming weeks to discuss further the propositions we put to them and to hold them to account for their responsibility to deliver a first class health service for all citizens in our area. "
MLA Conor Murphy added "Daisy Hill Hospital provides an essential service to the people of the local area and Sinn Féin wants to see the A&E services maintained.
"There is no doubt that the pressures we see in A&E departments are an indication of others issues in the health service.
"Despite pressures on the health service budget as a result of Tory austerity policies, Sinn Féin prioritised health spending and, as health minister, Michelle O'Neill instigated the most radical shake up of the health and social care service for decades."
Assembly Member for Newry and Armagh Justin McNulty MLA also led a delegation to meet with the Acting Chief Executive of the Southern Trust this morning to discuss the crisis facing the future of the Emergency Department at Daisy Hill Hospital. Mr McNulty was joined by South Down MLA Sinead Bradley and Councillors Pete Byrne and Kate Loughran.
‘Daisy Hill is an acute hospital and it must remain so. To do so, it must retain its 24/7 Emergency Department and all the support services that come with that status, including radiology services. It seems like a battle a day as the people of Newry, Mourne and South Armagh fight to retain basic health and social care services in this community. This community demands and deserves as much from their health services as those in Craigavon or Belfast.’
‘Whilst I do appreciate the efforts the Southern Trust have been making in this regard, this is a much bigger issue than the Southern Trust, this is a regional problem and can only be resolved with a regional solution. Therefore, following today’s meeting and in the absence of a Health Minister, I have now sought an urgent meeting with the Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health. He must put in place interim and then long term solutions to this issue. The solution must secure the Emergency Department at Daisy Hill 24/7.’
‘The Emergency Department at Daisy Hill is an extremely important service for the people of Newry, Mourne and South Armagh and we will not accept a second class service. We are all too aware of how the ‘temporary’ closure of Belfast City Hospital’s Emergency Department became permanent, again due to staffing issues."
