CALLS have been made to ensure emergency services at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry remain open despite "chronic" staff shortages.
A lack of consultants has left the A&E unit facing the threat of temporary closure when senior medical cover is not available.
The Southern Health and Social Care Trust said "numerous recruitment efforts" had been made without success and services were reliant mainly on locum doctors and the “continuing goodwill” of clinical staff across the trust.
“The service currently remains vulnerable to the short notice withdrawal of senior medical cover, particularly during the summer months when there is a less secure supply of locum consultants,” a spokeswoman said.
“Therefore, if there is any risk to patient safety due to lack of senior medical cover at night, the department will temporarily suspend the service until suitable medical cover becomes available.
"This would be a last resort, and the trust is making every effort to avoid any reduction in hours in the short term."
The situation was outlined yesterday at a public meeting.
Unions last night demanded the retention of services.
Kevin McAdam of Unite said the trust's statement "will send a shudder of fear into the local community who know that this is likely the precursor to a decision to close the emergency department".
Nipsa also said "similar statements were made when the Belfast City emergency department was closed temporarily but subsequently never reopened".
"The trust has indeed tried to fill the posts but this all points to a failure in the long-term planning of the health service."
Unison also said it had warned of the crisis and called for "urgent and focused attention" from the Department of Health in efforts to recruit staff.
Politicians also called last night for services to be retained.
