Councillors meet with Assembly committee

Councillors meet with Assembly committee

LOCAL politicians and hospital campaigners met members of the Stormont Health Committee last week.

Councillors Billy Walker, Walter Lyons and Terry Andrews were joined by Down Community Health Committee chairman Eamonn McGrady for talks with MLAs John McCallister, Roy Beggs Junior and Kieran McCarthy.

Sinn Fein’s Downpatrick election candidate, Naomi Bailie, was also part of the delegation which met the Assembly Health Committee members.

Members of the council delegation expressed concern at the decision by the South Eastern Trust to axe early evening and weekend A&E services at the Downe Hospital. Health chiefs have blamed the decision on a shortage of middle grade doctors.

Councillor Walker said it’s vital the South Eastern Trust “does everything it can” to have full A&E services returned to the Downe.

“Patients who are being taken to other hospitals for treatment have to join already lengthy queues to be seen and this causes them a great deal of stress,” he added.

Councillor Andrews said it is clear that emergency departments at the Ulster and Royal Victoria hospitals are already struggling to cope with demand, with patients arriving from Down District exacerbating the problems they face.

Councillor Lyons said it’s the “overwhelming view” of the people of the district that early evening and weekend A&E services must be restored at the Downe Hospital.