Students taking the lead

Students taking the lead

22 April 2015

STUDENTS from three Downpatrick schools addressed MLAs at Stormont. De La Salle High School’s Connor Curran was joined by Claire Curran from St. Mary’s High and Blackwater’s Grace Stewart.

Connor said the “obsession with centralisation” has resulted in a third world health service for the rural community in Northern Ireland. He said people in rural areas pay their taxes and are entitled to the same service as the people of Belfast.

The De La Salle student also highlighted the closure of the Downe Hospital’s accident and emergency department at night and over the weekend which results in patients being taken to hospitals in Belfast by paramedics. Connor said this removes frontline ambulance cover from the district with vehicles “queuing up” outside hospitals.

Claire, who is the head girl at St. Mary’s, highlighted the important role the Downe Hospital plays in the lives of many people across the district and outlined how important it has been to members of her family. She said the Downe is at the heart of the community and her 95 year-old grandfather would not be alive if it was not for the Downe.

The student also appealed to Health Minister Jim Wells for the pleas made by the local community during the Love the Downe rally last February in Downpatrick not to fall on deaf ears, adding: “People have shown their passion for the local hospital and I appeal to Mr. Wells to secure its future for the local community.”

Grace said students at Blackwater are concerned about the loss of services at the Downe and the impact it will have on the community, in particular, the large number of primary and post-primary schools in the area.

“People fought for many years for the Downe and deserve good medical facilities and care when they need it.” she said, highlighting concerns around waiting times for local people who have to travel to hospitals outside the district for A&E services.

Grace added: “We have a brand new, state-of-the-art hospital which can provide not only excellent health care but employment and a sense of community in Downpatrick and the surrounding area. The government is happy to allow a £64m hospital sit with its excellent facilities unused. Students need the Downe Hospital at the centre of our community. We need the security of knowing we are getting the health service we need and are fully entitled to.”