O’Neill’s hospital blow

O’Neill’s hospital blow

3 August 2016

HOPES that Northern Ireland’s new health minister will reverse the controversial stripping of A&E and coronary care services from the Downe Hospital have been dashed.

In her first public comment on the future of the hospital, Michelle O’Neill said there will be no change in policy and no restoration of key lifesaving services such as 24-hour accident and emergency.

In a letter to local politicians, Michelle O’Neill backed the South Eastern Trust’s decision to axe overnight and weekend A&E cover because of a shortage of middle grade doctors.

Senior health campaigner Eamon McGrady  said he was not surprised by Ms O’Neill’s comments but hopes when she visits the hospital she will provide the campaign with a “very favourable outcome.”

The Minister’s letter came in the same week as it was confirmed Ms O’Neill will be in Downpatrick shortly to meet with senior members of the Down Community Health Committee. Local councillors also hope to meet with her on the same day.

The minister insists the Downe is a vital part of the South Eastern Trust’s hospital network and will continue to deliver essential services. 

While Ms O’Neill said health chiefs will continue to pursue opportunities for expanded or enhanced services where possible at the Downe, she said this will only happen where it is safe and sustainable to do so.

The Minister said the South Eastern Trust has experienced “significant difficulties” in recruiting doctors to fill shifts within the Downe’s emergency department and that due to resignations and a shortage of agency locums, the organisation took the decision to temporarily reduce overnight and weekend A&E provision at the hospital from January 2014. 

While health chiefs have since provided enhanced out-of-hours GP services at the Downe and a weekend minor injury service, politicians and health campaigners are insisting on the return of 24-hour A&E cover. 

Her letter said changes in cardiology services — which resulted in coronary care and medical wards merging — were made by her predecessor Simon Hamilton in the context of a challenging financial situation.

Mr McGrady, chairman of the Down Community Health Committee, said the immediate restoration of 24-hour A&E provision and the reopening of the hospital’s dedicated coronary care ward remain at the heart of the health committee’s campaign.

“In terms of the full restoration of A&E services, we have the same number of emergency doctors in Northern Ireland as we had when the decision was taken to reduce this service in Downpatrick. It is just a matter of where these doctors are working which is a rostoring issue that should be readily and very quickly resolved,” he continued.

“With regard to the full restoration of cardiac services in the hospital — where some coronary services are still provided —I am sure they can be restored as quickly as they were taken out due to a shortage of money. I am sure the appropriate reconfiguration can happen. The reality is people are waiting on beds in the Downe Hospital all the time. The hospital is operating at full capacity and that hospital needs beds and services restored.”

Mr McGrady said campaigners warmly welcome the fact that this week sees the end of the consultation on the development of a regional ophthalmic service at the Downe. He said it is great to see additional services and resources coming to the hospital.

He continued: “At all times people have to remember that the hospital is very much open for business, it has a large number of services already on offer, but we just need to get it tweaked to have essential services like 24-hour A&E and dedicated coronary care services restored.”

The senior health committee official also believes that ambulance provision across the district will inevitably be discussed during the health minister’s forthcoming visit, explaining there have been concerns about this issue in the community over a long period of time “and it does not seem to have been satisfactorily addressed.”

Mr McGrady added: “Something is going to have to be done and if that requires ministerial intervention that would be unfortunate. Nevertheless, that is how it may have to be.”