Health chiefs insist emergency services will return to Downe

Health chiefs insist emergency services will return to Downe

8 July 2020

SENIOR health chiefs are insisting that emergency services, which were removed from the Downe Hospital as part of sweeping changes to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic, will be reinstated.

The South Eastern Trust has this week branded claims that the service will not return and be replaced with a daily minor injuries service as “inaccurate and misleading”.

The health trust says it hopes to be in a position to confirm a date for the return of A&E services to the Downpatrick hospital by the end of this month and that it remains totally committed to the Downe and its staff.

Health chiefs say emergency services will be returned when it is “safe and appropriate to do so” and while they have unveiled plans for a new minor injuries service at the Downe that will start in early August and operate daily between 9am and 3pm, they maintain that it is not a replacement for the A&E department temporarily closed at the end of March.

However, politicians and health campaigners remain concerned that a definitive date for the return of emergency services cannot be given, despite the fact that timetables for reinstating services removed from other hospitals to help with the fight against Covid-19 have already been outlined.

At Monday night’s meeting of Newry, Mourne and Down Council, politicians called for the immediate restoration of all services temporarily removed from the Downe at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, including A&E. 

They are also seeking an urgent meeting with Stormont health minister Robin Swann to discuss the issue, highlighting the importance of emergency services remaining at the heart of the Downpatrick hospital.

South Eastern Trust officials met with a number of politicians last Thursday and Friday and while unable to confirm a date for the return of A&E services to the Downe at the time, they subsequently confirmed on Monday that they hope to be in a position to do so by the end of July.

Expressing concern about “inaccurate information” about the future of emergency services at the Downe, health chiefs say it is “misleading the public” at a time when they are actively working to restore the A&E services to pre-Covid levels.

“The South Eastern Trust remains totally committed to the Downe Hospital and our staff who work there,” it said in a statement.

“The spreading of disinformation will do nothing only cause uncertainty and distress to local people and damage the partnerships which have been established to move forward. Endoscopy services at the hospital have been restored to pre-Covid levels, with day surgery services now operating at 75%.”

Three months on from the closure of the Downe’s ED, health officials say their commitment to reopen urgent and emergency care services is as clear today as it was when they made the changes. 

Health officials say while they are not yet in a position to restore services to pre- Covid levels, as a first step towards that goal they are opening a seven day minor injuries service, insisting that it’s not a replacement for A&E provision, but a first phase of opening. 

Officials say they are actively working through each of the steps necessary to safely reopen services at the Downpatrick hospital and hope to announce the date by the end of July.

They are also adamant that at no time was it stated that the minor injuries service would replace the Downe’s emergency department and that health trust chief executive, Seamus McGoran, made this abundantly clear to those present at a meeting last Thursday.

“Covid-19 has not gone away,” the health trust statement continues.

“The reopening of the minor injuries unit is the only step the organisation is able to take at this time, due to a number of critical factors. These include the continuing threat of Covid-19, the ongoing planning required, staffing availability and managing safety and risk for our patients, service users and staff. 

“We would like to assure the local community that it absolutely remains our intention to restore the full emergency department at the Downe Hospital to the levels delivered pre-Covid-19. We appreciate the concerns of the 

local community and that people are keen to receive assurances and a date for reopening the full A&E department. As soon as we have a date, we will advise.”

The statement adds: “The Trust is progressing all plans in accordance with the Department of Health’s ‘strategic framework for rebuilding health and social care services.’ As we work to rebuild services, our absolute priority will be to keep our patients, service users and staff safe. 

“We remain committed to working in partnership with elected representatives and the local comment, and have agreed that regular meetings will take place going forward.”