Newry Mourne and Down District Council recently announced a motion against the Permanent Secretary’s decision to permanently remove Emergency Surgery from Daisy Hill Hospital and are calling for the new Health Minister to reinstate Emergency Surgery at Daisy Hill Acute Hospital immediately. (Link at end)
It is good to see this action from Newry Mourne and Down Councillors on this vitally important issue, whose job it is to speak and act for the people in their areas. The estimated population of Newry, Mourne and Down Council for 2023/24 is 185,808 adults and children (NISRA). Newry Mourne and Down has the third biggest Council population in NI, with the third largest land mass area.
The removal of Emergency Surgery from Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry is a very serious withdrawal of a core timely life-saving Regional Emergency service from an Acute Hospital.
Centralisation of this kind also has a serious impact on all other Health Trusts especially the Ambulance Trust.
The Southern Trust does not have the authority to remove Regional Services.
This decision to permanently remove Emergency Surgery from an Acute Hospital can only be taken after a Regional Public Consultation and after approval by a Health Minister.
Just like the changes to Stroke Services and all other Regional Services which affect the whole population, before there are any permanent changes to Emergency Surgery Services at Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry, the following will be required:
1. A proper Population Needs Assessment using official data from NISRA and 2. An open and accessible Regional Public Consultation on Emergency Surgery provision.
As Health Minister, Mr Robin Swann MLA will be aware of the importance of all factors in Regional health service decision making and will wish to ensure that there is no geographic disparity (inequality) in the core acute hospital services provided across the region.
He will also be aware of the need to match other core values for the Programme of Government including Good Relations, Rural Needs and Climate Change Regulations.
Health Minister Robin Swann MLA will be aware of all these factors and the decision now rests with him.
Daisy Hill hospital is the heart of the community – and needs to remain as an Acute Hospital, the people have paid for it to be there when they need it in an emergency.
Information on this and other similar topics is also available at the companion Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/daisyhillforlife/ Please Follow or Like the Page to receive updates. Thank you.
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We welcome sharing of this info and the use of excerpts and links, please give full and clear credit to http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com and Daisy Hill for Life with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank-you.
As 2023 draws to a close, we thought it fitting to remember a very special stand out event from the Daisy Hill Hospital Campaign in 2023 – by returning to the SOS Daisy Hill Hospital Committee Public Rally in Newry on 25 June 2023 to feature some of the speeches spoken from the platform.
Over 10,000 men, women and children came out to support SOS Daisy Hill Hospital Committee by gathering in Marcus Square for speeches and then a people’s march up to Daisy Hill Hospital, applause for the staff and a walk right around the hospital complex to form a “ring of steel” of people.
A number of excellent speakers spoke to the assembled crowd at the Rally in Marcus Square, and audio of three of the speakers is available here – Pls click on the links to listen:
Francis Gallagher Chairperson of SOS Daisy Hill Hospital Committee
Tanya Killen President of NIPSA (Northern Ireland Public Service Association)
Deborah Yapicioz UNISON
Eddy Curtis SOS Daisy Hill HospitalCommittee
As we remember that day and listen to some of the available inspirational speeches, is a reminder of the enthusiasm, strength of feeling and determination that exists in the community and beyond to continue to challenge unfair decisions like the removal of core emergency services and beds and the failure of the Southern Trust and others to properly invest, plan or recruit for Daisy Hill Acute Area Hospital, Newry.
The words and actions of this Public Rally in June encourage us to look forward with positivity and with determination for the future of Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in 2024.
Summed up by Mr Eddy Curtis from SOS Daisy Hill Hospital Committee from the Rally platform that day, here are some extracts from his speech:
“We have to continue battling and fighting and putting our best foot forward – to say the people of Newry & Mourne and South Armagh will not accept anything less than an international quality of health that you deserve.
We are asking all families and their children to lead the parade, because at the end of the day – they are the future of our region and they are the people who are going to need health services.
We are going to walk right round the hospital – to put a ring of steel on it and let them see– it’s ours – you cannot touch it – you have to invest in it.”
Eddy Curtis (SOS Daisy Hill Hospital Committee)
Population info
GP registers in NI : Newry & District has 160,615 patients (2nd highest in NI (after only Derry), including the 2nd highest number of children in NI under 18, with (36,228 ) (Source DOH 2023)
Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com (Daisy Hill Hospital for Life) and Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank-you! We welcome sharing.
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As 2023 draws to a close, we thought it fitting to remember a very special stand out event from the Daisy Hill Hospital Campaign in 2023 – by returning to the SOS Daisy Hill Hospital Committee Public Rally in Newry on 25 June 2023 to feature some of the speeches spoken from the platform.
Over 10,000 men, women and children came out to support SOS Daisy Hill Hospital Committee by gathering in Marcus Square for speeches and then a people’s march up to Daisy Hill Hospital, applause for the staff and a walk right around the hospital complex to form a “ring of steel” of people.
A number of excellent speakers spoke to the assembled crowd at the Rally in Marcus Square, and audio of three of the speakers is available here – Pls click on the links to listen:
Francis Gallagher Chairperson of SOS Daisy Hill Hospital Committee
Tanya Killen President of NIPSA (Northern Ireland Public Service Association)
Deborah Yapicioz UNISON
Eddy Curtis SOS Daisy Hill HospitalCommittee
As we remember that day and listen to some of the available inspirational speeches, is a reminder of the enthusiasm, strength of feeling and determination that exists in the community and beyond to continue to challenge unfair decisions like the removal of core emergency services and beds and the failure of the Southern Trust and others to properly invest, plan or recruit for Daisy Hill Acute Area Hospital, Newry.
The words and actions of this Public Rally in June encourage us to look forward with positivity and with determination for the future of Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in 2024.
Summed up by Mr Eddy Curtis from SOS Daisy Hill Hospital Committee from the Rally platform that day, here are some extracts from his speech:
“We have to continue battling and fighting and putting our best foot forward – to say the people of Newry & Mourne and South Armagh will not accept anything less than an international quality of health that you deserve.
We are asking all families and their children to lead the parade, because at the end of the day – they are the future of our region and they are the people who are going to need health services.
We are going to walk right round the hospital – to put a ring of steel on it and let them see– it’s ours – you cannot touch it – you have to invest in it.”
Eddy Curtis (SOS Daisy Hill Hospital Committee)
Population info
GP registers in NI : Newry & District has 160,615 patients (2nd highest in NI (after only Derry), including the 2nd highest number of children in NI under 18, with (36,228 ) (Source DOH 2023)
Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com (Daisy Hill Hospital for Life) and Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank-you! We welcome sharing.
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The most recent full Department of Health Report, ‘Health and Wellbeing 2026: Delivering Together’ brought out by former Health Minister Michelle O’Neill, MLA – stated:
“the Health service belongs to all of us… Everyone who uses and delivers our health and social care services must be treated with respect, listened to and supported to work as real partners within the HSC system.” *
Health and Wellbeing 2026: Delivering Together’ p19
When it comes to any decisions made about Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry and any of the Acute Hospitals here in this NI region, these Principles in Delivering Together and the Rules and Procedures around the spending of public money and the statutory accountability of all who deliver and attempt to withdraw Regional Health public services must be followed.
Emergency Surgery and Acute Stroke Services are REGIONAL Services. They cannot be centralised again from a major Acute Hospital like Daisy Hill without a valid Population Needs Assessment and a full Regional Public Consultation by the Department of Health. A local or individual Health Trust Consultation is NOT enough to make a decision to withdraw vital Regional Services like Accident and Emergency Surgical or Medical services from one area of NI which is going to have a detrimental adverse effect on the lives of everyone across the NI region.
FAILURE TO FOLLOW DUE PROCESS MEANS THE DECISIONS ARE INVALID.
The local catchment population are asking for and are entitled to fair treatment and continuing access to acute hospital premises when it comes to the availability of Emergency Surgery and Emergency Stroke services in their acute hospital Daisy Hill, Newry City.
CENTRALISED TO NINE MAJOR ACUTE HOSPITALS IN 2003
In 2003, following the Hayes Review and Regional Consultation, Acute Hospital Provision including 24/7 Consultant Led Accident and Emergency Services and Maternity services were Centralised to nine major acute hospitals. It was recognised by the Department of Health at that time, following the Regional Consultation that the three newly designated acute hospitals in Newry, Enniskillen, and Coleraine, were also needed as well as the so called “Golden Six” to provide timely access to Acute Hospital services as well as ensuring timely access to 24/7 Consultant- Led Emergency Surgery and Emergency Medical Services and Maternity Services to everyone no matter where they choose to live in NI.
All three acute hospitals are situated within predominately rural areas with no nearby acute hospital which can provide timely access to Accident and Emergency and Maternity services.
>FURTHER ACTIONS AND REQUIRED SOLUTIONS
For those wishing to take further action for Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry as a designated Acute Hospital, people can build on the action of the SOS Daisy Hill Hospital Committee who recently drafted a letter to send to the Southern Trust Chief Executive which expressed opposition to the decisions to remove Emergency Surgery and Acute Stroke services from Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry to Craigavon Hospital.
SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR REQUIRED SOLUTIONS:
The Southern Trust must:
>1. Immediately return vital life saving Regional Emergency Surgery and Regional Acute Stroke Services to Daisy Hill.
>2. Invest properly in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry to ensure the large population in Newry & District is provided for and to fulfil their statutory and legal obligations towards Equality, Human Rights, Rural Needs, Rights of the Child, Good relations and Climate Change regulations.
>3. Return permanently specialist acute inpatient beds to Daisy Hill Hospital
>4. Buy permanent major diagnostic equipment for Daisy Hill Hospital and
>5. Recruit properly for staff for Daisy Hill Hospital and stop prioritising Craigavon and (Lurgan (non acute)) Hospitals.
People can keep asking MLAs, Newry Mourne and Down Council Councillors and officials, local representatives on the Southern Local Commissioning Group, the Southern Trust, DoH NI, Patient Client Council, Public Health Agency, Equality Commission, Older People’s Commission, Children and Young Peoples Commission for all these five solutions detailed above for Daisy Hill: (1) Return vital services, (2)Investment, (3) inpatient beds, (4) permanent diagnostic equipment and (5) Proper Recruitment for a level playing field for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital Newry because it is true – the health service does belongs to all of us and we must be treated with respect, listened to and supported to work as real partners within the HSC system*
Refs: *(Health and Wellbeing 2026: Delivering Together, Quote p19, Health Minister Michelle O’Neill, MLA
ENDS
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SaveDaisyHillhospital.com and Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook have been created in partnership for the positive promotion of Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry city and to promote the need for expansion of specialist acute services, staff, number of beds, and imaging equipment at Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry city for now and the future.
“The six Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland have worked in partnership to develop new draft Equality and Disability Action Plans for 2023-28. These draft equality and disability action plans outline the proposed actions to be taken forward by the Health and Social Care Trusts over the next 5 years to address Section 75 inequalities, and to promote positive attitudes towards people with a disability and to encourage participation in public life. We are now seeking views on our draft Equality and Disability Action Plans and welcome your feedback regarding the potential impact of our proposed actions or how they could be improved.
We are keen to hear from anyone – service users, carers, staff and trade unions and we value input from those with lived experience.
All comments should be returned to the Northern Health and Social Care Trust Equality Unit.”
Consultation Deadline tomorrow Monday 25th September 2023
HOW TO REPLY
Once it has downloaded -open the Word version of the consultation file and you can start to edit it.
You will need to fill in your name and your email address on page 1 and answer the Equality and Disability Plan Qs and if you want to answer the Equality Monitoring Data Questions 10- 20 you can fill them in too.
Then Save your filled in consultation questionaire version to your device with a New file name of your choice.
Instructions for those not used to replying to consultations through email
Save file to your device (then Save as a new filename) eg ‘word consultation proforma RSmith or Add your intitals’
Login to your Email, then Select Write New Email/Pen icon/compose
Attach the renamed file to your email using the (paperclip icon/Insert/Attach option)
Consultations are one of the best ways to get straight to the decision makers, and stand up for the services we are entitled to in this area.
We all have a say in how our Public Money is spent and have to speak up at every opportunity for Equal Treament and against removal of Regional Emergency Services and specialist Acute inpatient services in Daisy Hill and campaign for the Major new Specialist Acute Hospital building in Newry City for our large population, which was promised at Government level in 2005.
NOTE
Online Consultation Page says the closing date is 30th September 2023 – see link below
Registrar General NI Link (which confirms although the 11 council model is in place since 2014, Health Trusts remain under the 26 council model). See below
NI Commissioner for Children and Young People: www.niccy.org/
YOUR RESPONSES WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Replying to this Consultation and Liking and Sharing these posts can help support all Daisy Hill Hospital campaigns. Thank you.
Information on this and other similar topics is also available at the companion Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/daisyhillforlife/ Please Follow or Like the Page to receive updates. Thank you.
Subscribe to Blog via Email
Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.
We welcome sharing of this info and the use of excerpts and links, please give full and clear credit to http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com and Daisy Hill for Life with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank-you.
SaveDaisyHillhospital.com and Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook have been created in partnership for the positive promotion of Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry city and to promote the need for expansion of specialist acute services, staff, number of beds, and imaging equipment at Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry city for now and the future.
Share this:
People Power in Newry- Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry Saves Lives – 2023
Acute Hospital services and specialist acute inpatient beds needed in Newry 2023. Equality needed in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust.
There are 160,615 adults and children on GP Registers in Newry & District who depend on timely access to Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City to Consultant Led Emergency Surgery and Emergency Medical Services to save their lives. There is no nearby alternative Acute hospital with 24/7 Consultant Led ED Department.
On 1st April 2007 the Southern Trust (Under the 2006 Establishment Order) took over responsibility and accountability to the public (from existing providers Newry & Mourne Health & Social Services Trust) to continue to PROVIDE (NOT TAKE AWAY) hospital accommodation (beds) and Services in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital.
HOW MANY INPATIENT BEDS HAVE THE SOUTHERN TRUST LEFT IN DAISY HILL ACUTE HOSPITAL, NEWRY TO PROVIDE FOR NEWRY & MOURNE POPULATION IN SEPTEMBER 2023?
There were 249.7 beds in Daisy Hill Hospital in 2010*(Ref1) but by September 2023 the Southern Trust has cut the number of inpatient beds dramatically and is now fast tracking centralisation to Craigavon despite the size and need of the larger population in Newry & District.
Newry & District’s very large population size is proven by the latest official data, as in 2023 Newry & District has the 2nd highest number of patients on GP registers in NI (with 160,615) after only Derry, including the 2nd highest number of children in NI under 18, with (36,228 ). (Ref2*: Source DOH).
The Southern Trust rather than provide hospital accommodation (beds) in Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry – instead recently CUT the number of inpatient beds in Daisy Hill, Newry and then soon afterwards has the insensitivity to put out an appeal to the public for help because high numbers of ill patients need hospital beds due to serious overcrowding in Daisy Hill Hospital and Craigavon Emergency Departments. (30th August 2023 Extreme Hospital pressures: See end for ‘Public appeal’ link*(Ref 3).
The Southern Health and Social Care Trust, with an income of nearly £945 million public money in 2021/22 has the function in Law to provide hospital accommodation (beds) and services for people in ALL the FIVE local government districts in the Southern Trust operational area (in order of population size, starting with the highest: Newry & Mourne, Craigavon, Armagh, Dungannon and Banbridge).
Yes this is correct – Newry & Mourne LGD has ALWAYS been the highest locality population of the 5 LGDs in the Southern Trust operational area (NISRA) (* Ref4) , however the Southern Trust simply will not allocate the appropriate investment on hospital buildings, services, equipment or staff in Newry & Mourne’s Acute Area Hospital – Daisy Hill.
CONCLUSION
There are unacceptable clear health inequalities in the Southern Trust right now, which must be challenged.
The Southern Trust is presently providing a 2-tier health system across its two acute hospitals.
For the population of Newry & Mourne the focus is on Acute Care at Home.
>How the Southern Trust are doing this:
The Southern Trust are enhancing ‘ACUTE’ CARE AT HOME services (with patients over 65 years to be cared for in their own homes rather than admitted to hospital), AMBULATORY (SAME DAY) HEALTHCARE and are aiming to provide ALTERNATIVES TO HOSPITAL CLOSE TO HOME as ABSOLUTE PRIORITIES for the Southern Trust for the POPULATION OF NEWRY & DISTRICT.
The Southern Trust have drastically reduced specialist acute inpatient beds in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital (DHH), Newry City and their ‘Ambitious’ plan for Daisy Hill aims to prevent and reduce inpatient medical admissions. The Southern Trust wants to transfer acute services from Daisy Hill Hospital to a community treatment centre.
>Meanwhile at the other end of the scale is the SECOND ACUTE HOSPITAL in the Southern Trust – CRAIGAVON. While Daisy Hill lost beds in 2023 – the Department of Health Budget 2023-24 proposed EXTRA BEDS & PERMANENT DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT FOR CRAIGAVON HOSPITAL AND ENHANCEMENT AFTER ENHANCEMENT. The Southern Trust steam on ahead with their unwavering plan for a £400million (2014 estimate) MAJOR NEW HOSPITAL FOR THE SMALLER POPULATION OF CRAIGAVON.
“Equalitymeans treating people fairly and making sure they have the same chances at life.” According to the HSC Equality Action Plan 2023-28 – but how is this 2-tier health system in the Southern Trust equality?
Hospitals are paid for with public money and the Southern Trust is meant to provide services – not take them away without public consultation. Local authorities must follow the law and be accountable to the people.
REQUIRED SOLUTION:
The Southern Health and Social Care Trust must:
Invest properly in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry to ensure the large population in Newry & District is provided for and to fulfil their statutory and legal obligations towards Equality, Human Rights, Rural Needs, Rights of the Child, Good relations and Climate Change regulations.
Return specialist acute inpatient beds to Daisy Hill Hospital
Buy permanent major diagnostic equipment for Daisy Hill Hospital and
Recruit properly for staff for Daisy Hill Hospital and stop prioritising Craigavon and (Lurgan (non acute)) Hospitals.
BACKGROUND REFERENCES& ADDITIONAL DATA
Ref 1 249.7 beds in Daisy Hill Hospital in 2010 (*Ref1 : Source DOH 2010)
Ref 2 GP registers in NI Newry & District has 160,615 patients (2nd highest in NI (after only Derry), including the 2nd highest number of children in NI under 18, with (36,228 ) (*Ref 2: Source DOH 2023)
(A) INPATIENT BEDS: ALL PROGRAMMES OF CARE (Source DOH 2010 & 2022)
249.7 Average available inpatient beds in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry. [1st April 2009 to 31st March 2010]. 221.1 Average available inpatient beds in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry. [1st April 2021 to 31st March 2022]. In September 2023 – how many inpatient beds are left in Daisy Hill acute Hospital, Newry?
(B) INPATIENT BEDS: General Surgery: 1st April 2009 to 31st March 2010 (DOH 2010)
> General Surgery : Daisy Hill: 48.8 average available inpatient beds and 3,036 non elective inpatients > General Surgery CAH: 85.9 average available inpatient beds and 3,727 non elective inpatients.
(C) INPATIENT BEDS: General Surgery 1st April 2021 to 31st March 2022 (DOH 2022) >General Surgery: Daisy Hill: 24.2 average available inpatient beds and 2,089 non elective inpatients > General surgery: CAH: 70.5 average available inpatient beds and 3,008 non elective inpatients. (Non elective inpatients =unplanned/emergency). ‘Average Available/Occupied Beds: The average number of available and occupied beds during the year in wards that are open overnight, measured at midnight. Hospitals may also have a number of beds in wards that are only open during the day. Beds reserved for day care admission or regular day admission are not included.’ (Source DOH 2022).
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SaveDaisyHillhospital.com and Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook have been created in partnership for the positive promotion of Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry city and to promote the need for expansion of specialist acute services, staff, number of beds, and imaging equipment at Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry city for now and the future.
These 5 versions can all be downloaded and used, if you want to use any of the info to assist you, or the answers just as they are for your own response to the Department’s call out for comments to this consultation pls see How to reply below. Consultation Deadline is this coming Monday 14th August 2023: 23.59pm.
WHY IS THIS CONSULTATION IMPORTANT?
The purpose of the Department of Health (DoH) is to improve the physical and mental health of people in NI; prevent, diagnose and treat illness; and improve the social wellbeing of the people of NI. But the distribution of the £7.3 billion Budget allocated to the DoH in 2023-24 will not secure any improvement in diagnosis and treatment of illness and social wellbeing for the catchment population of Daisy Hill Specialist Acute hospital, Newry City.
Even though Newry & District has the second highest number of patients on all of the 17 GP Registers in NI (with c.161,000 men, women and children), and has the third largest land mass (mostly rural) for the Ambulance Trust to cover, Daisy Hill Specialist Acute hospital, Newry City, with 57,000 attendances to Accident and Emergency has yet again been left out of this £7.3 billion Public money budget (except for a proposal to give basic electrics for the hospital).
We have to bring to the attention of the DoH that the Southern Trust once again removed timely life saving core services like Stroke and Emergency Surgery from Daisy Hill. Over 10,000 men women and children took part in the recent SOS Daisy Hill Hospital Committee Public Rally to object to removal of these vital core services.
To date the Southern Trust has only submitted business plans for permanent diagnostic equipment plus previous Business Plans for a £400+ million new Hospital for Craigavon. They refuse to submit business plans to the Department for the NEW Hospital promised in 2005 by Peter Hain, in Newry, as their intention is to centralise all specialist acute services to Craigavon hospital.
DOH STATE THEY DO NOT HAVE THE POWER TO CEASE CRITICAL SERVICES
DOH Budget EQIA pg13/14 states Re Staff Pay Offer: “As highlighted above, the financial position does not therefore allow the Department to make a pay offer without implementing measures that would have an immediate detrimental impact on services to citizens. Our present analysis suggests that, to do so, WOULD REQUIRE DECISIONS TO CEASE CRITICAL SERVICES WHICH ARE BEYOND THE POWER THE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE.”
As it is beyond the power of the DOH (as stated above) to make a decision to ‘cease critical services’ to citizens it was also beyond the power of the Southern Trust to cease providing critical timely access to vital core life saving Regional services like Emergency Surgery and Stroke in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital. This removal of critical core Emergency services has already had an adverse detrimental impact on c161,000 patients on GP Registers in Newry & District in the catchment area of Daisy Hill, Newry and their ability to access TIMELY specialist acute inpatient hospital services.
The Southern Trust Establishment Order states very clearly they have to provide (not centralise to Craigavon) “accommodation and Services” in Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry. This budget is proposing extra beds for Craigavon hospital but no extra beds to accommodate the larger catchment population of Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry & District who have no nearby alternative Acute Hospital.
>The only option left to us now is to answer the 3 Questions in this 2023 Doh Budget Allocation Consultation (pdf pgs 38,39) and challenge why Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City was left out by the DoH of Major Budget proposals and denied its fair share of NI’s allocation of £7.3 billion.
Major investment has unquestionably been allocated to other Acute hospitals across NI eg Ulster, Antrim, Altnagelvin, Royal, when other acute hospitals are ignored. This is not equal treatment or improving the health and social wellbeing of the people from the catchment area of Daisy Hill, Newry.
YOUR RESPONSES WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE because the DOH also says that Consultation responses will also be considered in targeting any additional funding that may become available during the financial year.
HOW TO REPLY
Instructions for those not used to replying to consultations through email
Save file to your device (rename the filename if you can) eg ‘Comments to DOH Budget EQIA Add intitals‘
Login to your Email, then Select Write New Email/Pen icon
Attach the renamed file to your email using the (paperclip icon/Insert/Attach option)
Type the recipients email address into the To field: Budget23-24response@health-ni.gov.uk
Subject field : Response to DOH Budget 2023-24 Equality Impact Assessment / EQIA Consultation
Reply notes: Replying to this DOH Budget 2023-24 Consultation and Liking and Sharing these posts can help support all Daisy Hill Hospital campaigns. Thank you.
The aim of this strategic proposal is to try and protect services delivered directly to citizens as much as possible and through this minimise the impact on service delivery, patients and clients thereby protecting, as far as possible, services delivered to all section 75 groups.
Reading Notes/page numbers : Department of Health Budget 2023-24 Equality Impact Assessment Consultation Document typed Page number 8 is found at PDF page no.10 and page 18 numbered on the Consultation doc is found at PDF page no.20 when viewing on through a PDF reader.
Link to the Department of Health NI Consultation: Equality Impact Assessment of the 2023-24 Budget
Links to Equal Commission & Children’s Commissioner Response
Response by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland to the consultation by the Department of Health on its Budget 2023- 2024 Equality Impact Assessment
Registrar General NI Link (which confirms although the 11 council model is in place since 2014, Health Trusts remain under the 26 council model). See below
>CONSULTATION DEADLINE: This important DOH EQIA Budget Consultation is open until this coming Monday 14th August 2023: 23.59pm.
Information on this and other similar topics is also available at the companion Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/daisyhillforlife/ Please Follow or Like the Page to receive updates. Thank you.
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Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.
We welcome sharing of this info and the use of excerpts and links, please give full and clear credit to http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com and Daisy Hill for Life with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank-you.
Downloadable Information Sheets with pre-written Response ideas to help answer this Budget Consultation are NOW AVAILABLE – to respond to the Dept of Health’s request for comments to their Equality Assessment of the 2023-24 Budget Outcome
The Department of Health cannot commit one penny of funding towards Health and Social care in Newry & Mourne or at Daisy Hill Hospital unless the Southern Trust asks for it by putting it into their Business Plans and submitting to the Department of Health.
As the Southern Trust have NOT asked or proposed any proper funding for Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry in this Budget – We the people need to speak up and ask instead through this Public Consultation
The 2023-24 Budget EQIA Consultation Deadline is Mon 14th August, so the campaign for fair treatment for Daisy Hill acute Hospital continues, with a renewed call for action for the people of Newry & Mourne, (which includes South Armagh and South Down) and surrounding areas. Please take part and write for your rights.
Based on demographics and other factors, Newry should be confirmed as a location for a new specialised Acute Hospital building so these Response/Comment Sheets to the Equality Assessment of the 2023-24 Budget Outcome are now ready to Download and read for sending responses back to the Department of Health.
To assist you – various information sources including some very good Budget Consultation Responses from the Equality Commission NI and from NI Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY) are available from the references section below at the bottom of the article.
What difference will it make if I take part in this Consultation?
Will it make any difference if I take part in this consultation?
Yes, because if you read the quote below from the Consultation Document from the Department of Health it states:
Consultation responses will also be considered in targeting any additional funding that may become available during the financial year.
So if you do not ask – you will not get – but if you ask and make a good deserving case for – we could get the additional funding that Newry & Mourne LGD has needed for a long time for its large population and for its acute Hospital – at Daisy Hill, Newry. As you know, Newry & Mourne has always been the highest LGD population, with the largest population of children in the Southern Trust area. This must be recognised in this Budget.
Quote below from the Department of Health Budget 2023-24 Equality Impact Assessment Document, p31 (p33 pdf page number) shows that the Department is actively seeking for all citizens to comment on these funding proposals. If we have Equality concerns – we must tell them so they can act on them.
“The Department will seek comments on any potential equality implications arising from the budget and will consider the potential for any further mitigating actions in relation to responses received during the consultation. Consultation responses will also be considered in targeting any additional funding that may become available during the financial year.“
Daisy Hill Hospital Rally 2015Save Our Emergency Surgery at Daisy Hill Rally 2023
Thank you! Let us keep up the long running campaign to speak up for Daisy Hill Hospital, the acute Hospital for Newry & Mourne (which includes South Armagh)
Detailed info on the importance of this Consultation is described on Daisy Hill for life website at :
The Department of Health explain the Consultation as follows on their website:
“The Equality Impact Assessment of the 2023-24 Budget Outcome Consultation opened on 22 May 2023. Closing date 14 August 2023 at 23:59. Summary The 2023-24 Budget was announced by the NI Secretary of State on the 27 April 2023. The Budget provides the proposed Resource and Capital investment funding allocations to departments for the 2023-24 financial year. The Department of Health’s Equality Impact Assessment document provides an Equality Impact Assessment of the 2023-24 Budget Outcome for the Department, and we are seeking your comments on the equality implications.“
Registrar General NI Link (which confirms although the 11 council model is in place since April 2015, Health Trusts remain under the former 26 council model). See below
Information on this and other similar topics is also available at the companion Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/daisyhillforlife/ Please Follow or Like the Page to receive updates. Thank you.
Subscribe to Blog via Email
Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.
We welcome sharing of this info and the use of excerpts and links, please give full and clear credit to http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com and Daisy Hill for Life with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank-you.
The Department of Health Budget 2023-24 proposes extra bed capacity & equipment for Craigavon Hospital, as a critical capital scheme, but in complete contrast the Budget proposal for Newry city is to start the construction of a Newry Community Treatment and Care Centre, rather than extra bed capacity or equipment at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry.
So why is this Community Treatment and Care Centre for Newry expressed as a Dept. Of Health critical capital priority scheme when Daisy Hill Hospital is not?
The Department of Health cannot commit one penny of funding towards Health and Social care in Newry & Mourne or at Daisy Hill Hospital unless the Southern Trust asks for it by putting it into their Business Plans and submitting to the Department of Health.
As the Southern Trust have NOT asked or proposed any proper funding for Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry in this Budget – We the people need to speak up and ask instead through this Public Consultation.
Based on accurate population plans –as Newry & Mourne LGD has always had the Highest population in the Southern Trust, Business Plans should have been submitted for the major construction of a New Specialist Acute Hospital development in Newry city– instead of a Community Treatment Centre. This is the feedback the Department of Health need to hear.
The Department of Health have asked for Public Feedback on their 2023/24 Budget proposals Equality Impact Assessment Document (Ref 1) We must use this opportunity to get straight to the decision makers, as to how our public money is being spent and its impact on our future health and economic survival.
BUDGET PROPOSALS 2023/4 – HOW IT AFFECTS YOU: THE PROPOSED NEWRY COMMUNITY TREATMENT AND CARE CENTRE – EXPLAINED IN THE TRUST’S OWN WORDS
“The Trust is continuing to progress plans for a Health and Care centre in Newry which will support the shift of Acute services primarily from Daisy Hill Hospital to a community facility.”
Quote above from the Southern Trust Delivery Plan 2018/19 on the new Newry Community Treatment Centre. p97
The Southern Trust Delivery Plan 2018-19 (Ref 2) is available to download from the References and Links section at the end of this article.
NEWRY COMMUNITY TREATMENT CENTRE TO BE PRIVATELY FINANCED AND CONTRACTED OUT FOR 25 YEARS
The Community Treatment and Care centre for Newry proposal first appeared as a plan in the ‘Transforming Your Care’ Health Reform in 2013. This Newry Community Treatment Centre would NOT be financed using public capital funds like those in Portadown or Banbridge, but would instead be funded by the private sector.
The Southern Trust described this finance deal as a: ‘novel/untested type of procurement known as Third Party Development (3PD)’
“The Trust would enter into a contract for the design, build, finance and maintenance of a community treatment and care centre for a term of 25 years.“
As verified from another source, the Strategic Investment Board (Ref 4 in Links list) states :
“Two pathfinder hub schemes (Newry and Lisburn) were identified in 2013 to test the Third Party Development (3PD) approach.”
ORIGINAL PLAN FOR A NEWRY COMMUNITY TREATMENT CENTRE BASED ON MISREPRESENTED POPULATION SIZES
The Southern Trust plan for a new Community Treatment and Care Centre in Newry first appeared c.2013 when it was encouraged by the Health Minister in charge of the ‘Transforming Your Care’ Health Reform. (TYC)
This TYC Health Reform was informed by the Southern Locality Population Plan and Tables which misrepresented the population sizes of the 5 Localities (LGDs) in the Southern Trust area.
In these ‘population plans’ the Newry & Mourne LGD was incorrectly represented as the smallest locality in the Southern Trust, instead of correctly showing it as the Locality (LGD) with the highest population in the Southern Trust and the smaller population of Craigavon LGD population size was enhanced by adding it to Banbridge LGD population. (for details on this – See Ref 3 link at very end of article below).
This population size misrepresentation / error has had implications on funding decisions ever since.
Based on accurate population plans –as Newry & Mourne LGD has always had the highest Locality/LGD population in the Southern Trust, business plans should have been submitted for the major construction of a New Specialist Acute Hospital development in Newry – instead of just proposals to build a privately funded Newry Community Treatment Centre.
Daisy Hill acute Hospital in Newry city has no nearby alternative Hospital and has no alternative support Hospital, unlike Craigavon which has 2 non acute support Hospitals, (Lurgan 2 miles away and South Tyrone).
The population of Craigavon are 20 minutes motorway journey from Belfast and from several major acute hospitals in Belfast city and in nearby Ulster Hospital. Newry city needs its designated acute hospital as well as a Community Treatment Centre just like Craigavon in Portadown.
EQUALITY CHECKS FOR THESE BUDGET PROPOSALS – THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE
You can use your democratic right to express your opinions on how the money is spent by taking part in this consultation on the Budget Equality Document.
If you want to give your views on how the Department of Health here proposes to spend your hard earned Public Money on Health Services and where these future services exist, contributing to health, the economy and job prospects both medical and construction and all associated jobs linked to a hospital – this is your chance.
This Department of Health Budget EQIA 2023-24 which proposes extra bed capacity & equipment for Craigavon Hospital, should also have had equivalent funding for a new Specialist Acute Hospital building for Newry city, for its large population to keep in line with Equality and Rural Needs Legislation. This important Budget Consultation is open until Monday 14th August 2023.
Short Suggested Answers to this Consultation (along with reasons) will be presented on Daisy for Life on facebook and on this website very very soon at https://savedaisyhillhospital.com/posts/
Liking and Sharing these posts can help support the campaign. Thank you.
REFERENCES AND LINKS
CONSULTATION LINK
Ref 1: Link to the Department of Health NI Consultation: Equality Impact Assessment of the 2023-24 Budget Outcome:
NEWRY COMMUNITY TREATMENT CENTRE TO BE 3PD (THIRD PARTY /PRIVATELY DEVELOPED) LINK
Ref 4: The Strategic Investment Board’s website describes the plan that the Newry Community Treatment Centre would be funded as a third party development: “Two pathfinder hub schemes (Newry and Lisburn) were identified in 2013 to test the Third Party Development (3PD) approach” Read the full article from this link: Strategic Investment Board NI -project -3pd-primary-and-community-care-programme/
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We welcome sharing of this info and the use of excerpts and links, please give full and clear credit to http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com and Daisy Hill for Life with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank-you.
Hospital services are paid for with public money – funded by your Regional rates, Taxes and National Insurance Contributions. In 2021/22 The Southern Trust had an income of £944,707,000* (nearly £945 million). Management costs were £29,092,000* (c £29.1 million).
>How much of this c. £945 million was spent on Specialist Acute Inpatient Services and Emergency Services in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry in 2021 -2022?
>How much of this c. £945 million was spent on Specialist Acute Inpatient Services and Emergency Services in Craigavon Hospital in 2021 -2022?
>Are Newry & Mourne population (the largest LGD /locality population in the Southern Trust) getting VALUE FOR MONEY?
There are TWO Government designated Acute Hospitals in the Southern Trust – the longest established is Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry city which is situated in the Newry & Mourne LGD –CONSISTENTLY THE HIGHEST LOCALITY/LGD population in the Southern Trust.
Graphic by Daisy Hill for life
The second Acute Hospital is Craigavon Hospital in Portadown (situated in Craigavon LGD -the second largest locality population in the Southern Trust area, where Newry & Mourne LGD is the highest population)
CRAIGAVON HOSPITAL REDEVELOPMENT PRIORITISED AGAIN (p43 OF SOUTHERN TRUST LATEST ANNUAL REPORT)
The Southern Trust Annual Report & Accounts 2021-22 gives information on how much is being spent overall in the Southern Trust – but the public need to know that the money is being spent FAIRLY across its acute hospitals according to population size/need.
The public need to know this especially because Craigavon Hospital redevelopment once again gets prioritizedin the Southern Trust 10 year Capital Long term Expenditure Plans (p43) but despite the long overdue population-based need and requirement in Newry & Mourne –there is NO MENTION of Long Term Expenditure Plans for the Redevelopment of Daisy Hill Hospital , Newry city, in this same 10 year review of capital priorities statement, as shown quoted below:
“as part of a 10 year review of capital priorities, the Southern HSC Trust has identified a need for investment in excess of some £430m. THIS INCLUDES REDEVELOPMENT OF CRAIGAVON AREA HOSPITAL together with much needed infrastructure, backlog maintenance and diagnostic equipment requirements.”
This Southern Trust Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 can be accessed and read in full from the link at the end of the article under Background and References.
IMPORTANT: WHCH LOCALITIES (LGDs) ARE INCLUDED IN THE SOUTHERN TRUST AREA?
IN LEGAL TERMS the Southern Trust area includes ONLY 5 (former) LGDs of (1) Newry & Mourne, (2) Craigavon, (3) Armagh, (4)Dungannon and (5) Banbridge. (Ref: Establishment Order 2006)
The 2006 Order also makes it very clear that accommodation and services should be provided in each of six named hospitals, with addresses, including Daisy Hill, Newry. It does not say all hospital accommodation and services should be centralised to Craigavon only as the Southern Trust are determined to do.
The operational area of the Southern Trust is NOT Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon; Mid-Ulster; and Newry, Mourne and Down council – This Southern Trust Annual Report has got this wrong on the Southern Trust operational area on p9 of the Southern Trust Annual Report & Accounts 2021/22.
Important:
In Legislation ‘Down’ is in the operational area of the South Eastern Trust and ‘Mid Ulster’ (Cookstown and Magherafelt) are in the Northern Trust.
HEALTH SERVICES COMMISSIONING
The number of people living within a locality (LGD) and assessed population need is supposed to be the primary factor when commissioning health Services so as Newry & Mourne LGD is the highest locality population in the Southern Trust – this should also be reflected in the funding spent on Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry and its Specialist Acute Inpatient services and Emergency services.
Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry was designated in its own right one of the 9 major Acute Hospitals in NI since 2003 (as part of Developing Better Services). As such it is entitled to funding for a fully functioning acute hospital with 24/7 Consultant Led Accident and Emergency Services and 24 /7 Consultant Led Maternity Services.
It was not designated as a ‘support or local hospital’ to Craigavon (as the Southern Trust nominated it to be in 2010) or designated just as a regional elective centre as has been decided without any form of Consultation WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PAYING FOR a fully functioning acute hospital.
Newry & Mourne LGD needs re-imbursement for Hospital funding due to population plan errors in the Southern Trust area > For vitally important information and explanation why Daisy Hill, Newry requires this re-imbursement for Hospital funding due to crucial errors -see the Daisy Hill for Life website – by clicking on the picture LINK below:
We welcome sharing of this info and the use of excerpts and links, please give full and clear credit to http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com and Daisy Hill for Life with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank-you.
Information on this and other similar topics is also available at the companion Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/daisyhillforlife/ Pls Share and Like posts to show your support and please Follow or Like the Page to receive updates. Thank you.
Daisy Hill Hospital for Life 