A rally in Newry has heard calls to put a stop to plans to pull maternity services from the city’s Daisy Hill Hospital.
A large crowd gathered amid ongoing anger at a plan by the Southern Trust to send pregnant mothers to Craigavon to give birth thanks, the Trust says, to recruitment issues at Daisy Hill.
The Trust says they have been unsuccessful in their efforts to find consultant obstetricians for the South Down hospital. Sunday’s rally was organised by the SOS Daisy Hill campaign in conjunction with Unison the Union.
Campaigners say they want Health Minister Robbie Butler to understand the depth of concern among local residents and the potential consequences that the proposed suspension could have for expectant mothers, their partners and families across Newry, South Down and South Armagh.
The potential loss of local maternity provision raises serious questions about travel times, access to public transport, the additional costs and practical difficulties facing families, they say.
Speaking about of Sunday’s rally Francis Gallagher, Chairman of the SOS Daisy Hill Committee, said: “This rally is about the future of maternity services at Daisy Hill Hospital and the right of our community to have its concerns heard and taken seriously.
“We want to demonstrate clearly to the Minister of Health the strength of feeling across Newry, South Down and South Armagh before representatives of the SOS Daisy Hill Hospital Committee and the Daisy Hill FutureWays Group meet him at Stormont on Tuesday 27 October.
“We hope the Minister will see that this is not simply a concern held by a small group of campaigners. It is an issue that matters deeply to local families, healthcare workers and the wider community.
“We recognise the pressures facing our health service, but decisions of this importance must be supported by clear evidence and must fully consider the impact on the people who depend on these services. We are calling on the Southern Trust to stop the proposed temporary suspension and work urgently with the Department of Health to find a solution that safeguards maternity care at Daisy Hill.”
People Before Profit’s Newry & Armagh rep Marc Mac Seáin commends said it “was amazing to see thousands in marching against the suspension of Daisy Hill’s maternity service”.
He added: “This cut would put thousands in Newry, South Armagh, South Down & across the border in danger. Families can’t be expected to make journeys of 1 & 1/2 hours+ safely up the country roads to Craigavon, especially in dangerous storm conditions like last night. 40% extra births transferred to Craigavon from Newry will also use vital bed space, it’s a double cut.
“Daisy Hill has seen cut after cut for years but a line in the sand must be drawn. There must be accountability & systemic change with the Southern Trust, Department of Health, Stormont Executive who have failed our communities year on year.”
