Outpatient surgery proposal in Downe is welcomed by MP

Outpatient surgery proposal in Downe is welcomed by MP

13 July 2016

SOUTH Down MP Margaret Ritchie hopes a proposal to centralise ophthalmology outpatient services at the Downe Hospital will pave the way for health officials to make increasing use of the Downpatrick facility.

The Belfast Trust is consulting on proposals to change and modernise its ophthalmology outpatient service provision, with services it currently provides at the Downe, Ards, Bangor and Ulster hospitals consolidated to provide one-stop patient services, with enhanced diagnostics and treatment options, at the ophthalmic clinical centre in Downpatrick.

The specialist centre would deliver an enhanced range of services and there would be no need for patients to make multiple visits to Belfast for treatment. The proposal is the first piece of good news for the £65m hospital since the closure of its 24-hour A&E service and dedicated coronary care unit.

Welcoming the proposal, Miss Ritchie said the move is hopefully proof that the Department of Health and South Eastern Trust have accepted the valid case advanced for the Downpatrick hospital to host additional services.

“The Downe is one of very few hospitals with a specially equipped theatre that can provide the full range of ophthalmic services. The hospital must be recognised for the medical asset that it is, a state of the art facility with professional and dedicated staff,” the MP continued.

“The Downe has the ability to take on more services, alleviate pressures at the Ulster Hospital and throughout the health system and grow both in terms of medical provision and indeed infrastructure if required.”

Miss Ritchie believes the Downpatrick hospital is capable of housing a suite of additional services including a day ward for all cardiac/medical conditions, including investigations and check ups or anyone needing specialist assessment, with both GPs and A&E staff able to use the facility.

It’s her contention the A&E department could deal with more minor injury ailments including booked attendances for minor operations carried out under local anaesthetic.

“As the Downe is one of few hospitals with a specially equipped theatre for orthopaedics, this could be utilised by bringing additional orthopaedic work to Downpatrick to reduce waiting times in a number of areas.

“These include minor shoulder operations, injections into the spine, dealing with sports injuries, varicose vein surgery, urology sessions, maxillofacial sessions and minor gynaecology operations,” the MP continued.

Miss Ritchie believes consideration should also be given to extending day procedure times as has happened in many hospitals in England and that additional radiography services in the form of ultrasound and CT scanning could be provided in Downpatrick.

The MP added: “We must continue to push for these additional services at the Downe. Their provision will not only enable an improved service for patients, but increase the profile of the hospital within the medical profession, the South Eastern Trust and indeed the Department of Health. 

“I believe such assistance will help in securing existing services, strengthening the case for the return of full coronary care services and full-time A&E to the Downpatrick hospital.”