Thousands took to the streets of Newry on Sunday protesting against the reduction in services at Daisy Hill Hospital.
It’s the second large protest this year following on from a demonstration in the city in April.
And just like then, protesters gathered in in Marcus Square on Sunday afternoon, where they listened to campaigners before marching en-masse to Daisy Hill.
Francis Gallagher from the Daisy Hill SOS campaign committee said: “We need to have a full local acute hospital to cater for this extensive region from Kilkeel to Newry, Castlewellan and Crossmaglen.”
And speaking after the rally, SDLP Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty said: “Power to the people. Well done to every man, woman and child who today showed up in defiance. There was thunder in the air. People are furious as they are sick of the drip, drip, drip withdrawal of vital services from our hospital.
“Today a resounding loud message has been delivered by the people of Newry, South Armagh and South Down to the health authorities and the political establishment – we will not be going quietly into the night until we get equality in access to essential health services.”
Also speaking after attending the public rally, Sinn Féin MP, Mickey Brady said: “On Sunday, we marched shoulder to shoulder with people from all across Newry and Armagh in support of Daisy Hill Hospital.
“The large turnout at the rally shows the clear public support that exists for Daisy Hill and both the Trust and the Department of Health must recognise this and ensure that supporting Daisy Hill is their highest priority.
“Daisy Hill provides vital, life saving services to people from all across Newry and Armagh and is a key part of our health service in the north.
“The trust must immediately get to work on not just stabilising our services but also delivering a long term plan for the future of Daisy Hill and taking real actions to secure it.
“People should not be constantly forced to take to the streets in order to save services at Daisy Hill.
“Sinn Féin will continue to work with others to stand up for Daisy Hill Hospital and to secure its future as a key hospital in our Health service.”
Earlier this month, it was revealed that the Southern Health and Social Care Trust is considering cutting the number of medical inpatient beds from 107 to 40 due to staffing issues.
It is the latest in a number of services to be affected at the hospital, with others impacted including emergency surgery and stroke.
However, the Southern Health Trust said they are working with staff on a number of proposals to stabilise staffing over the summer months, one of which includes the reduction of beds, but that it is an evolving situation.
A spokesperson for the Southern Trust said: “From late July we will have only one substantive medical consultant working at Daisy Hill Hospital and this could potentially impact on the number of student doctors we are allocated in August.
“Our initial focus aims to immediately stabilise staffing for the summer months in anticipation of a more permanent solution.“We have worked with medical staff to develop a number of possible proposals to prevent and reduce inpatient medical admissions by developing more same day emergency care and enhancing community services.”
