A Newry rally to save maternity services at Daisy Hill hospital will still go ahead this Sunday (Oct 25) despite a yellow storm weather warning.
The Southern Trust recently announced that almost 2,000 babies may not be born at the hospital temporarily due to a lack of available obstetrician consultants.
A public fight back on the move of baby births to Craigavon Area hospital has seen a UNISON petition seeking the Minister of Health Robbie Butler (UUP) to step in has now reached over 13,000 signatures.
Daisy Hill SoS spokesperson, Francis Gallagher spoke to to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, saying:“The rally is definitely going ahead on the basis that we’ve been told that the weather is going to clear up by 1pm and the rally is at 2.30pm
“So, we’ll just have to keep our fingers crossed that that’ll happen and on the basis of all of that there, we’re pushing on ahead.
”It’s crucial that people come out to the rally, because it’s a matter of survival for local people and for mothers and babies, it’s a matter of life and death.”
Storm Boelo is set to hit Northern Ireland on Saturday 24 October with the Met Office issuing an alert of widespread winds of up to 70mph.
A yellow Met Office weather warning will be in place across Northern Ireland from 6pm on Saturday until 3pm on Sunday.
Mr Gallagher added:”We have a mobile illuminated sign on the back of a van that’ll be travelling around on Saturday.
“It’ll start in Castlewellan, Newcastle, and along, Kilkeel, Warrenpoint, Camlough and Newry City, and that’ll be around from 12noon to 4pm on Saturday.
“It’ll really shine out on the autumn weather, so people will not be able to miss it.”
The trade union UNISON is also petitioning for a future long term plan for the hospital as local fears grow on travel times for expecting mothers from Newry to the alternative Craigavon Area hospital.
Meanwhile, Daisy Hill SoS has called out the First and Deputy First Ministers as well as the Executive, as the campaign group believes Minister Butler (UUP) has been “scapegoated” over years of investment neglect at the Newry hospital.
Mr Gallager said:”People need to understand this isn’t just about maternity, because all of the hospital departments are interdependent.
“You know, it’s very hard to have an A&E department if you don’t have all the other acute departments there.
“They’re all pillars of a hospital and when you take one or two pillars away, the other pillars will all collapse, so this is highly serious, it really is.
“I don’t want to be too alarmist, but women could end up having babies on the side of the road and that is what could very well happen.”
He added:”We had a meeting this week with the Minister of Health in Stormont and the permanent secretary.
“We said, that this isn’t just the responsibility of the Minister of Health, this cuts across all Executive departments
“The First and Deputy First Ministers need to take action as well, because I think that what’s happened here is that the Minister of Health has been scapegoated in this and all the blame’s been put on his head.
“When the actual fact is it’s right across the whole Executive and they all have to take responsibility for this.
“We’re working on pushing this because really the bottom line is it’s just been years and years of neglect, it’s been a mess.”
At a recent public forum in Newry a member of Daisy Hill SoS made claims that the last baby to be born in Daisy Hill will be in late November.
At the meeting, campaign group speaker Eddy Curtis urged for up to 30k people to come out to a public rally on Sunday saying “we can’t let that happen”.
The LDRS contacted the Southern Trust ahead of a public Trust Board meeting on Tuesday 3 November when an update on Daisy Hill will be given.
The Trust has also stated that it is reaching out to expectant mothers ahead of the Daisy Hill SoS claims of a scheduled date for the final birth in Daisy Hill.
A spokesperson said: “We deeply appreciate the strength of public support for local maternity services and recognise how important these services are to women, families and the wider community.
“We understand the concern this situation is causing. We are grateful to women, families, staff, trade unions, elected representatives and others who have shared their views, ideas and feedback.
“No formal decision has yet been taken, and efforts to secure the necessary clinical expertise are continuing.
“While extensive efforts continue across the regional Health and Social Care system, the consultant obstetric workforce needed to safely maintain inpatient maternity services at Daisy Hill Hospital by mid-November has not yet been confirmed.
“We are therefore continuing to plan for possible consolidation from Monday 23 November.
“We thank our maternity team for their professionalism and compassionate care throughout these difficult circumstances.
“They are doing everything possible to support women and families through this period of uncertainty.”
The spokesperson added:“Maternity staff are contacting women due to give birth at Daisy Hill Hospital after 23 November.
“Anyone with concerns who has not been contacted should speak to their midwife or call the maternity information line on 028 3756 1325, Monday to Friday, 2.00pm–5.00pm.”
