Minister should have put stop to Downe beds cuts

Minister should have put stop to Downe beds cuts

20 August 2014

THE Health Minister has been criticised for allowing health chiefs to “cherry pick” the removal of front line services from the Downe Hospital.

Alliance councillor Patrick Clarke said he was saddened that Edwin Poots did not intervene to prevent the South Eastern Health Trust (SET) from closing any more beds at the hospital or removing any more services.

Mr. Clarke was responding after the Trust closed a number of beds recently, reduced the opening hours of the accident and emergency department and closed the hospital shop.

The Dundrum councillor wrote to Mr. Poots asking him to prevent any further reduction in services and to stop the Trust closing any more beds.

“In July I wrote to the Health Minister regarding my deep concern about further bed closures at the Downe Hospital and asked him to challenge the SET on their recent decision and the total lack of consultation with elected representatives and key stakeholders prior to this announcement,” he said.

“Mr. Poots has written to me and advised that the Trust have confirmed it has no intention to close beds on a permanent basis on any ward in the Downe Hospital in Downpatrick but gave no substantial response to justify the temporary bed closures.

“The Trust has given assurances that no patient has suffered any detriment as a result of these temporary closures which according to the Health Minister are entirely in response to seasonal variation in demand and that the situation will be reviewed on a daily basis with additional beds being opened if required.

“It is very disappointing that the Health Minister is happy to allow the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust to continually cherry pick at front line health care services at the Downe Hospital in Downpatrick such as the reduction in 24/7 accident and emergency services, the recent closure of the Hospital shop and more recently temporary bed closures.

“I wonder what will be next to be cut by the Trust by at the Downe Hospital,” he added.