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A large crowd attended the SOS Daisy Hill Hospital Public Meeting last Wednesday 8 November in the Canal Court Hotel, Newry. The meeting was opened by Vice Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Cllr Gareth Sharvin, standing in for Chairperson, Cllr Valerie Harte who had to attend another function.
Cllr Sharvin congratulated everyone for attending and spoke about the need for quality health services in the District Council area. He said Public Consultation was essential and called for better communication between the Trust and the members of the local community.
The meeting Chairman Eddy Curtis explained that an invitation had been sent to the CEO of the local Southern Health and Social Services Trust but they had confirmed that no one would attend tonight’s meeting. Curtis said "The political attendees and the general public were horrified that the meeting had been snubbed by a public official who is paid by the public purse. There was a no confidence proposal made by those attending the meeting against the local Trust and it’s CEO, this was supported unanimously by all those attending. It was also agreed to write to the Permanent Secretary for Health explaining the frustration of the public at the non attendance and to highlight the continuing lack of proper communication by the Trust with organisations like the SOS Daisy Hill Hospital Committee."
Professor John Brown University of Cork showed a video where he detailed the problems with the Centralisation of Medical Services and how there is very little evidence based data to support this type of policy. Mr Brown also confirmed Centralisation does not improve mortality rates and has a detrimental impact on both patients and those visiting patients due to longer travel times. Examples were shown on how Centralisation has failed in the Republic of Ireland, Netherlands etc. Prof Brown also said there was a major negative environmental impact due to travel times etc.
Mr Francis Gallagher Chairman of the SOS Daisy Hill Hospital Committee said “My committee has consistently protested against the removal of General Surgery and Stroke Services at the hospital. I cannot find any evidence based data which proves this is the best way forward to provide 21st century health services. We can see evidence based data from the Nuffield Trust and University of Cork stating centralisation is not the policy to follow. You have heard from Professor John Brown about the problems with centralisation and how it does not improve mortality rates, so why is this type of policy being implemented. We will be following up all matters raised tonight with the Trust and Department of Health and will report back to the public in the future”
The meeting also heard from Mickey Brady M.P Sinn Fein; Cllr David Taylor Ulster Unionist; Justin McAnulty MLA SDLP; Sharon Loughran ANTOU; Michael Savage Future Ways Committee. Apologies were sent from DUP and Alliance parties.
All parties talked about the need for the protection of medical services at Daisy Hill Hospital and the need for better coordination between all organisations attempting to stop the removal of services from Daisy Hill Hospital. All speakers spoke at length about the need for the future development of Daisy Hill Hospital with the introduction overnight elective services etc.
Discussion took place on the recruitment of an additional 68 medical staff including Consultants, Junior Doctors, Theatre Nurses etc and that approximately 40% of them would be working at Daisy Hill. This information was welcomed and discussion took place on staff development and retention.
There was detailed discussion on the closure of the Stroke Unit and the rationale that it was closed due the fact a Stroke Consultant had left. It was asked if a Stroke Consultant was recruited in the latest recruitment drive which appointed 68 medical staff and if that was the case, would the Stroke Unit at Daisy Hill reopen. It was agreed to write to the Trust and ask them to clarify the position on the recruitment of a Stroke Consultant.
Michael Savage, Future Ways Committee representative said there was an urgent need for the SOS Daisy Hill Committee to work in association with the Future Ways Committee to maintain pressure on the Trust to develop the Hospital. He said it was best to speak with one voice to show a coordinated approach to the Daisy Hill Hospital proposals.
Local businessman Stephen Begley stated that everyone in the room should write to the Trust explaining their dissatisfaction with the CEO’s non attendance at the Public Meeting and her and her Board’s decision not to listen to the voices of the community regarding the removal of general surgery from Daisy Hill Hospital. It was agreed to put a draft letter on the SOS Daisy Hill Hospital’s Facebook page.
Meeting Chairman, Eddy Curtis said there was "a lot of dissatisfaction about the possible under-use of the new MRI scanner" The SOS Daisy Hill Hospital has submitted an FOI seeking usage figures which will be published when the committee receive same."
Gemma Brolly Chairperson SOS Causeway Coast Committee spoke at the meeting. Brolly said, “ I am very pleased to attend your public meeting tonight and I am impressed with all the actions you have taken to protect services at Daisy Hill Hospital. Your Action Plan has to be admired and I am confident you will maintain all your actions until you get what you want”. Gemma concluded, “ we have to query the Public Consultation process which is only providing lip service to the community. Between the Causeway Coast, Fermanagh, and Daisy Hill Hospital Consultations, tens of thousands of people have attended public meetings, rallies etc and have replied to the consultations and not one service was saved. Also the lack of support provided by the Rural Needs Act has to be investigated and when the Assembly is reopened meetings will be sought with our MLA’s to have this legislation strengthened. I wish your committee every success in the future and I look forward to more coordination between our campaigns in the future “.
