Campaigner urges public to back call

Campaigner urges public to back call

2 July 2014

‘IT’S time to get active.’

That was the rallying call from the chairman of the Down Community Health Committee at a meeting in Downpatrick last week.

Mr. Eamonn McGrady, who has been helping to spearhead the campaign for the return of early evening and weekend A&E services to the Downe Hospital, was joined at the St. Patrick Centre by leading Unison official, Patricia McKeown.

Mr. McGrady said health campaigners across the district are adamant they will not be surrendering local hospital services “not now, not tomorrow, not ever.”

In a direct call to people across the district concerned about the future of local hospital services and who want the return of a 24-hour doctor-led emergency department in Downpatrick, he declared “it’s time to get active.”

Mr. McGrady said the Down Community Health Committee and the people of the district resolve to do what they have always done and will continue to do — protect local hospital services.

“We have an excellent new building, but there needs to be a commitment to maintain local services including accident and emergency, coronary care, psychiatry and addiction provision.

“We need to liaise with our MLAs and look to co-ordinate with the many local groups across our area,” he continued, explaining such steps are crucial to keep health issues to the fore. “We need to reorganise and reignite our own campaign.”

Mr. McGrady highlighted the importance of the Human Rights Commission’s decision to hold a public hearing in Downpatrick on September 9 at the Down Arts Centre as part of its inquiry into emergency health care in Northern Ireland and to hear at first hand people’s experiences about visits to A&E departments and minor injuries units.

Mr. McGrady said campaigners will be compiling their submission for the hearing which will include harrowing stories of many people who have suffered as a result of the closure of early evening and weekend A&E services at the Downe Hospital. He also encouraged others to tell their story to the Commission.

The closure decision, taken six months ago, was blamed by health chiefs on a shortage of doctors, with Mr. McGrady issuing a reminder that the move was greeted by an “unprecedented outcry” across the district.

He said while a minor injury unit currently operates at the Downe at weekends, he hopes this particular service is sustainable until 24-hour A&E services — included in the years of planning for the new Downe and in place when the hospital opened — are returned to Downpatrick.

“The campaign for the return of this service continues and will continue,” declared Mr. McGrady, referring to Province-wide reductions in hospital bed numbers and the resultant impact this has had on emergency departments.

The health committee chairman also argued during his address that people in rural areas are being discriminated against with an “undue concentration” of health services at Belfast hospitals.

Mr. McGrady referred to a recent article by Dr. Brendan Sinnott — a consultant in emergency medicine at the Royal Victoria Hospital — who claimed the weekend closure of A&E services at the Downe has led to “huge pressures” at the Belfast hospital.

Mr. McGrady added: “We are indebted to Mr. Sinnott and hope his comments will be picked up by our local politicians who need to take this issue to the Assembly and the Health Minister.

“The Downe hospital belongs to the people and we should have what we want, obviously within reason. The Down Community Health Committee will continue, as it has always done, to continue fighting to protect local hospital services. We also hope the new Newry, Mourne and Down Council will have an active and functioning health committee.”