Newcastle to host next A&E meeting

Newcastle to host next A&E meeting

THE third in a series of public meetings to discuss the controversial axing of weekend and early evening A&E services at the Downe Hospital takes place in Newcastle tomorrow night.

The Burrendale Hotel will be the venue for the Thursday evening meeting which is being organised by the Down Community Health Committee. It starts at 7pm.

Public meetings to discuss the loss of emergency services at the Downe Hospital have already been held in Downpatrick and Ballynahinch, with a total of around 800 people attending both.

Now people in the Newcastle, Castlewellan, Dundrum, Clough, Kilcoo and Bryansford areas are being given an opportunity to have their say on the South Eastern Trust’s decision to axe weekend and early evening A&E services at the Downpatrick hospital.

Health chiefs have blamed the move on a shortage of middle grade doctors, but insist their decision is temporary and they are making continuing efforts to recruit the staff they need to work at the Downe.

It’s hoped local clergy and students from local schools will address tomorrow night’s meeting which will be attended by local politicians and Unison representatives.

Mr. Eamonn McGrady, the chairman of the Down Community Health Committee which is organising tomorrow night’s meeting, wants people to make their views known on the South Eastern Trust’s decision about local A&E services.

A minor injury service has been introduced at the Downe at weekends, but

hospital campaigners, politicians and the community want the consultant-led emergency department service returned.

Mr. McGrady said there is a very strong feeling within the community about the A&E issue and expressed his delight with the response to the public meetings already held in Downpatrick and Ballynahinch.

“Our next meeting is in Newcastle tomorrow night and throughout the campaign it has been very encouraging to hear the messages of support coming in and the great interest there is on this very important issue,” he said.

“We want people to express their support for our local hospitals and, most importantly, to tell their own stories. People in Newcastle and Castlewellan have always been enthusiastic supporters for the hospitals campaigns generally and the Downe Hospital in particular.”

Mr. McGrady said campaigners want to see the whole community represented tomorrow night because everyone has been working together on the issue “which has been the strength of the campaign.”

Veteran hospital campaigner, Ann Trainor, said the health committee is encouraging the entire community to come together again to support local services.

“The strength of the community campaign lies in the fact that it has always been a cross-community, cross-party campaign. We all work together in a cause that is just and we must never forget that the Downe is still a great hospital,” she continued.

Mrs. Trainor added: “It offers a first class setting in which services can be delivered to a most appreciative local community. It is worthy of our continued support.”