Battle begins for 24-hour A&E at Downe

Battle begins for 24-hour A&E at Downe

21 May 2025

HEALTH campaigners have launched a major new offensive in a bid to have 24-hour emergency services restored at the Downe Hospital.

A new petition calling for the return of around-the-clock emergency provision at the Downpatrick hospital was officially launched last week.

Interest already expressed by community groups across the district in the new campaign has been described as “unprecedented”.

Local politicians have also weighed in with their support and plan to lobby for the return of the hospital’s 24-hour emergency department at Assembly level.

Just over 10 years ago, 25,000 people took to the streets of Downpatrick demanding the retention and enhancement of frontline services at the hospital.

The Down Community Health Committee – which formally launched the petition on Friday – said the community’s resolve in fighting for what it believes is rightly deserved remains as undiminished as ever. Politicians say the petition launch will galvanise the resolve of local people to campaign for the return of a service which many argue has the ability to reduce lengthy waiting times at the emergency department at Ulster Hospital in Dundonald where the overwhelming majority of local people are taken.

Campaigners no longer want to see local people driven past the Downe to wait 12 hours in the Ulster’s emergency department, or left outside in an ambulance as overworked medical staff struggle to cope with the volume of patients.

They want the front door of the Downpatrick hospital to be open, not locked, with people not  forced to telephone first for someone to determine if they will be admitted or not.

Currently, the Downe provides a telephone first urgent care centre service which is open between 8am and 6pm from Monday to Friday. 

A minor injuries unit, which opens at the weekend between 9am and 5pm, also operates by appointment only.

Campaigners are keen to see the urgent care service extended to pave the way for the return of emergency services which were axed at the start of the Covid outbreak.

At the time, the closure of the ED was described as a “temporary measure” but it has never been reinstated. 

Campaigners say the decision has to be overturned with the Downe allowed the opportunity to do more to meet patient need locally.

Campaigners were joined at last week’s petition launch by local people and representatives from the town’s business community, who spoke with one voice in a call to the South Eastern Trust to provide a 24-hour emergency service in Downpatrick.

Health group chairman Eamonn McGrady said the local community had “rights and entitlements” and pointed to the “brilliant hospital in Downpatrick” which is underused.

He passionately believes that what is needed across the country is a rights based entitlement framework to deliver services, particularly for rural communities.

And Mr McGrady said campaigners “don’t take kindly” to lectures from public officials about how they should be campaigning or encouraging people to sign petitions.

He said it was time for the voice of local people to be heard within the corridors of power at Stormont, at the Department of Health and wider health and social care arena.

Mr McGrady added: “Had it not been for the Love the Downe rally in 2015 the Downpatrick hospital would be in a much worse position now. I have no doubt that had 25,000 people not taken to the street that would be the case.

“And this petition will have the same impact because it proves that people care and our local community will fights for its services.”