Casualty unit is essential for clubs

Casualty unit is essential for clubs

19 March 2014

REPRESENTATIVES from local sports clubs — who between them have well over 1,000 playing members — expressed their support for retaining A&E services at the Downe Hospital.

Representatives from Ballynahinch Rugby Club, Drumaness Gaelic Club and Ballynahinch Olympic soccer club pledged support for the Downe and highlighted the critical need to have the Downpatrick hospital’s emergency department open at weekends.

Rugby club chairman, Philip Gregg, said the Ballymacarn Park club has over 250 primary school children playing at its ground on a Saturday, 100 secondary school pupils and seven adult sides competing in the afternoon.

“That’s over 450 playing members which makes us the biggest club in Ulster and the biggest adult club in Ireland,” he declared. “We are under huge pressure to develop sport and we have close links with our colleagues in Drumaness GAC.

“We all know sport is the buzz word and while we have to provide facilities, we also have a duty of care to make sure there is a medical facility in our area to treat these children if anything were to happen.”

Mr. Gregg also joked it was common knowledge that Ballynahinch Rugby Club has had its own parking space outside the Downe Hospital for many years with the A&E unit treating a significant number of players suffering from a variety of injuries.

Drumaness Gaelic Club chairman, Patrick Savage, said he was speaking on behalf of not just his own organisation, but Gaels from across East Down where GAA clubs have around 3,000 members between them, playing Gaelic games for around nine months a year.

“The Downe Hospital has been much-needed and provided a reliable service to many over the years, in particular, treating players with injuries. Indeed, last year we had a young player knocked down on his way to our pitch,” continued Mr. Savage. “Without the treatment and support this young person received from the Downe Hospital, he may not be here today.

“As a GAA sports administrator, I don’t want to be anywhere in years to come where a player or supporter does not get the medical treatment they require in an urgent manner. We fully support this campaign for retaining A&E services at the Downe Hospital.”

Ballynahinch Olympic secretary, John Bonner, said throughout the soccer club’s 40-year history, injured players have been treated at the Downe Hospital’s emergency department.

“Our players are all amateurs, they train in the evenings and play on a Saturday when the A&E unit at the Downpatrick hospital is closed. That is not good enough,” he declared.

Mr. Bonner said like other sports clubs across the district, he and his fellow committee members have a duty of care to the club’s players.

“That duty of care includes their health and well being. Ballynahinch Olympic supports the campaign for a 24-hour A&E service at the Downe Hospital,” he declared.

Mr. Bonner also referred to the new minor injuries service in place at the Downpatrick hospital and asked if a radiology services will be available.

He added: “If this isn’t the case it means anyone who arrives with a serious injury will have to transfer to another hospital. This means very few people will go to this new unit which could end up going the same way as the weekend A&E service.”