Trust head angered by views

Trust head angered by views

21 January 2015

“YOU just don’t get it”, a senior health official snapped to Down councillors on Wednesday evening.

The outburst came after local councillor Colin McGrath accused the South Eastern Health Trust of bolstering services at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald at the expense of the Downe Hospital.

Mr. McGrath was one of a number of councillors who expressed concern with Trust officials, during a meeting at Down Council on Wednesday, that the Downe Hospital was being downgraded to fund the Ulster Hospital’s expansion.

They also said they were angry not to hear directly from the Trust about plans to reduce coronary care beds.

“While you deliver lifesaving services at the Ulster Hospital we have bowel screening and sexual health clinics,” said Mr. McGrath.

However, the Trust’s Director of Hospital Services, Mr. Seamus McGoran, reacted angrily to Mr. McGrath, accusing councillors of contacting the Down Recorder with their hospital concerns rather than contacting him directly.

“There are major differences between a major acute hospital and local hospital. You just don’t get it on the other side.

“There is a fundamental problem with how we communicate here. I am still waiting on somebody lifting the phone to me rather than reading it in the Down Recorder.

“Relationships are not great but they are two-way things.”

Mr. McGoran explained the Ulster Hospital was also the major acute hospital for the people of Downpatrick

“We need a strong Ulster Hospital for the people of Downpatrick,” he said.

He also defended the recent reduction of the coronary care service at the Downe.

“We have not withdrawn services,” he said. “We have reduced beds. Is it tight? Absolutely.”