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A Daisy Hill Hospital campaign group has said they will support a local individual who is taking two Judicial Reviews against the Department of Health and the Southern Trust in response to the decision to permanently move emergency general surgery from the hospital.
SOS Daisy Hill Committee held an emergency meeting on Wednesday 10th January 2024 to discuss the announcement made by Department of Health Permanent Secretary Peter May to permanently transfer emergency general surgery to Craigavon Hospital.
During the meeting they discussed the options open to them to stop this transfer and get Emergency Surgery reinstated.
Francis Gallagher, Chairman SOS group said, “ I am very disappointed with Permanent Secretary’s announcement about the permanent transfer of Emergency Surgery from Daisy Hill Hospital to Craigavon Area Hospital. The people of our district have voted against this proposal with nearly 12,000 people responding to the Public Consultation and over 10,000 attending the Public Rally in Newry, to state very clearly they were against the Department and Trust’s proposals. Why consult and meet total opposition to your proposals and not listen to the local communities complete opposition to your proposals. Why does the N.I Assembly have a Rural Needs Act which was implemented to protect services in Rural Areas and just ignore it.”
Gallagher spoke of their committees decision to support two Judicial Review requests. He said “ after considering all options my Committee has agreed to support a local person who is finalising a proposal to take 2 Judicial Reviews against the Department and Health Trust. The first Judicial Review will challenge the Department’s Review of General Surgery in N. Ireland for failing to conduct a 12 week Public Consultation on the Review which was detailed in the Reviews Term of Reference. The second Judicial Review will challenge the decision by the Permanent Secretary to permanently transfer Emergency Surgery from Daisy Hill Hospital to Craigavon Area Hospital, in the absence of a Minister for Health. We are continually being told that strategic decisions cannot be taken without a functioning Northern Ireland Assembly and Ministers, so why should the Permanent Secretary be allowed to propose actions which will have a negative strategic impact on the health of residents who live in the Newry, Mourne Down and Border Regions”
SOS Daisy Hill Committee congratulated Newry Mourne and Down District Council for proposing a Special Meeting of the Council with the CEO of the Southern Health and Social Services Trust to discuss this proposal and to confirm their opposition to the Permanent Secretary’s decision.
