ABC Council is to write to Health Minster Robbie Butler in support of retaining maternity services at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry amid concerns of the impact such a move might have on Craigavon.
The Southern Trust has already detailed its ‘contingency plan’ which could see maternity relocated to Craigavon Area Hospital due to “significant” workforce pressures.
A public meeting, meanwhile, is due to be held at the Canal Court Hotel in Newry at 7pm tonight (Thursday) in opposition to any further removal of services from Daisy Hill.
As ABC Council held its own monthly meeting at Craigavon Civic Centre on Monday night, there was cross-party support for it to intervene in favour of keeping maternity at Newry.
Sinn Fein Councillor Bróna Haughey told all present: “I’m cognisant of the fact that we’re sitting here in Craigavon – very close to Craigavon Area Hospital – and that Daisy Hill does sit outside of our council area.
“But the potential closure of maternity services in Daisy Hill would have a dreadful impact on the people in Cusher and other areas of this council, especially if it were to close and the added pressure was put onto Craigavon maternity services there.
“We know that this service is so needed by women and babies here, a successful, busy service staffed by an amazing and committed group of people.
“What we now face could be existential for Daisy Hill, a hospital that has had to fight so hard and more than most for service retention, and it always seems that Daisy Hill is the first to lose but the last to get in any sort of investment or support.
“It would be a matter of life and death for expectant mothers and their babies and this is a patient safety matter more than anything else, and I don’t think that expecting expectant mothers to travel to Craigavon Area Hospital is good enough and we need to retain this service.”
Councillor Haughey proposed writing to the Health Minister to ask him to outline his plan for the retention of maternity services at Daisy Hill.
And, as she did so, she voiced her fear, based on previous experience, that it could be a case of once gone, gone forever, if the Trust presses ahead with such a plan.
“We’ve seen in other areas – and we’ve seen with Daisy Hill before – any sort of temporary step down of this makes it even more difficult to retain or get the service back,” added Councillor Haughey.
DUP Councillor Adam Copeland seconded the proposal, saying he “wholeheartedly agreed” that council should now write to the Minister.
He said: “I have had two children born in Daisy Hill Hospital, one quite recent, and the care offered to my wife and my children was second to none in Daisy Hill by the whole maternity ward.”
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