by Admin 4

PLAYING WITH NUMBERS, PLAYING WITH PEOPLE’S LIVES

In a crucially important Population Plan Table*, created in 2013 for the influential ‘Transforming Your Care’ Health Review – Newry & Mourne Local Government District was made to look like the smallest population in Southern Trust area when it was really the largest.

This misinformation was used to plan future Acute Hospital services for the Southern Trust area and the rest of NI and is still being used today – so this error is why Newry & Mourne LGD and Daisy Hill Acute Hospital have been placed at the back of the queue for hospital buildings and specialist acute inpatient services for years, despite Newry & Mourne LGD being the HIGHEST LGD population in the Southern Trust area since it was formed in 2007.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS TABLE?

This population plan table (shown in the graphic) implies that Newry & Mourne local government district (LGD) has the smallest Locality population in the Southern Trust area. But this is wrong because Newry & Mourne was NOT the smallest population – it was the LARGEST (and still is).

Whoever compiled this Southern Locality Population Plan Table* incorrectly displayed the standardised NISRA population figures of the Southern Trust area and by doing this –masked the true population sizes of the five Localities / LGDs in the Southern Trust area. The effects of this misinformation are still being felt today.

WHERE DID THIS TABLE COME FROM?

In 2011/12 as Part of the Transforming Your Care (TYC) Health Review and Consultation, the Health Minister asked the 5 NI Local Commissioning Groups for Draft Population Plans for each of their areas to assess the population in each Local Government District (LGD or locality) across NI to reflect local needs. “Population planning and local commissioning to be the central approach for organising services and delivering change.” (p8 TYC).

This Table is reproduced from the Southern Local Commissioning Group Locality -Population Plan ‘Changing For A Better Future’ 2013 Report on p18.* (A copy is available to download from the References section at the end of the article)

The Southern Local Commissioning Group (SLCG) created this Population Plan Report in conjunction with the Southern Trust which outlined how they jointly intended to commission and provide health and social care services in the Southern Trust area.

This information in this Population Plan was used for decision making in the Public Consultation on Transforming Your Care (TYC) Health Review.

EXPLAINING THIS POPULATION PLAN TABLE AND WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TODAY

The Table* shown from the 2013 Population Plan Report presents the Population sizes of all 5 local government districts in the Southern Trust in a very distorted way. There are FIVE Localities or local government district LGDs named in the Southern Trust area, they are:

(1) Newry & Mourne LGD, (2) Banbridge LGD; (3) Dungannon LGD; (4)Craigavon LGD and (5) Armagh LGD.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS TABLE?

This population plan table (reproduced in the graphic) implies that Newry & Mourne local government district (LGD) has the SMALLEST locality population in the Southern Trust area. But this is wrong because Newry & Mourne was NOT the smallest population – it was the LARGEST (99,900) in the table (and still is the largest today with a population of 106,813 people in 2020).

So whoever compiled this Southern Locality Population Plan Table incorrectly displayed the standardised NISRA population figures of the Southern Trust area and by doing this – masked the true population sizes.

MASKING OF TRUE POPULATION SIZES

To understand this distortion of locality/LGD population size as displayed in the reproduced Table, please look at the BRIGHT BLUE ROW OF HEADINGS shown on the Graphic.

First start with the first column named:

YEAR– then > go along to the Next Column: ARMAGH/DUNGANNON >then next Column: CRAIGAVON/BANBRIDGE then > next column: NEWRY/MOURNE.

These Headings are misleading as the places named are TWO local government districts grouped and added together in one column – that is until you get to the fourth column which instead displays only one local government District instead of two LGDs like the other columns before it.

So the grouped double LGDs are compared against one single LGD. This single LGD is Newry & Mourne LGD which is being compared inaccurately and misrepresented so it appears as the smallest population.

IN DETAIL

The second column in the Table adds the population of the 2 local government districts of Armagh LGD and Dungannon LGD together in one column to form a higher combined population total (117,100) than the Newry & Mourne LGD population which appears as one LGD on its own in the third column. (99,900)

Armagh LGD + Dungannon LGD =117,100

Compared against

Newry & Mourne LGD = 99,900

The third column again adds TWO LGD populations together – it adds Craigavon LGD and Banbridge LGD together in one column to give a COMBINED population Total (141,600) and then this Total figure is then compared alongside the single local government district of Newry & Mourne population, (99,900) which appears again on its own as ONE LGD.

Craigavon LGD + Banbridge LGD =141,600

Compared against

Newry & Mourne LGD = 99,900

Of course 2 local government district populations added together are likely to be much higher than one single LGD even if the single LGD is the largest population, but this is not a fair use or acceptable standardised practice, and Newry & Mourne is losing out because of it.

The former 26 Councils or Local Government Districts (LGDS) or localities are still named in legislation and remain as the Operational area of NI Health Trusts (Establishment Order 2006) and Commissioning Groups. In the Southern Trust area. (See Background and References for more information)

The Graphic titled FACT below shows how the populations of the 5 LGDs in the Southern Trust should have been shown if represented fairly and accurately: it is obvious from this accurate representation using the official standardised NISRA statistics that Newry & Mourne LGD is the largest Locality population in the operational area of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust.

THERE ARE FIVE LOCALITIES OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT DISTRICT LGDS NAMED IN THE SOUTHERN TRUST AREA NOT THREE!

The original Population Plan Table* from the Southern Local Commissioning Group Locality -Population Plan Report also gave the impression that there are only THREE localities or local Government Districts in the Southern Trust/Commissioning area and wrongly implies Newry & Mourne Local Government District has the least need, instead of correctly stating that there are FIVE localities in the Southern Trust with Newry & Mourne being largest population with greatest need.

This misinformation about the size of the Newry & Mourne LGD and the other LGDs in the Southern Trust area was presented to the decision makers in charge of planning future hospital services in the Transforming Your Care Review.

This TYC Review made it clear that there should only be 5-7 Acute Hospital networks for the entire population of NI. This Review knew there would be a huge interest in Acute Hospital sites and their future role and outlined that the final functionality of each of the (hospital) facilities will be based on POPULATION NEED and the principles set out in the report. (p116 TYC).

The Transforming Your Care Health Review was a population based planning of Services which then formed the foundation for many future Health Reviews which followed including Delivering Together, Donaldson, and the Bengoa Report.

WHAT CAN BE DONE? – POPULATION NEEDS ASSESSMENTS AND HOSPITAL FUNDING

This misinformation as presented in the table* was used to plan the current Acute Hospital services in the Southern Trust area and the rest of NI and is still used today.

This error will have been a major reason why Newry & Mourne LGD and Daisy Hill Acute Hospital have been placed at the back of the queue for hospital buildings and specialist acute inpatient services for many years, despite Newry & Mourne LGD being the HIGHEST LGD population in the Southern Trust area since it was formed in 2007, and the fourth Highest Locality (LGD) population in all of NI since 1971 with Belfast, Lisburn (Greater Belfast) and Derry.

This injustice must be rectified now by the DOH as discussions take place about the future Hospitals services here.

ACTION NEEDED TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE DONE BY POPULATION PLANNING MISINFORMATION

Newry & Mourne Acute Area Hospital at Daisy Hill needs re-imbursement for the years of lost funding (when they were placed bottom of the Queue) and return of inpatient beds and specialist services, in a fully functioning Major Acute Specialist Hospital (as designated by Government in 2003 and again earmarked for a major new acute hospital in 2005) which has still not been delivered by the Southern Trust and Department of Health 18 years later.

The Population Plan Table* – which in effect was a population needs assessment reveals why Daisy Hill is being wrongly treated as a ‘small local’ hospital today.

ACTIONS NEEDED

As verified by official NISRA statistics, for over 50 YEARS since 1971, Newry & Mourne LGD has ranked in the TOP 4 HIGHEST POPULATIONS in NI with Belfast, Lisburn (Greater Belfast) and Derry.

The number of people living within a locality (LGD) is supposed to be the primary factor when commissioning health Services so the misrepresentation of population sizes which continues today in population planning in Southern Trust must be corrected urgently.

So, in order to repair the damage done by this misinformation in 2013, which made Newry & Mourne LGD appear wrongly as the smallest LGD instead of the largest in the Southern Trust area there are two actions needed:

1. The Southern Trust and Southern Local Commissioning Group must stop putting forward the misleading idea that there are 3 localities in the Southern Trust when we know there are really 5 localities (LGDs). The population sizes of the Southern Trust area must be presented accurately acknowledging that Newry & Moure (single LGD) is the largest LGD/locality of the FIVE localities in the Southern Trust.

2. All Public Consultations (at both Regional and at Southern Trust level) must be based on accurate population size and accurately assessed population need. All Consultations (including the EQIA) must be population evidence based including for Emergency services (Emergency Surgery, Stroke, specialist acute services and reduction in status to a Regional elective Centre).

This should be organised by the Department of Health, The Strategic Planning and Performance Group, Public Health Agency and Southern Trust in the spending of scarce capital resources and decisions on spending on Hospitals (which have been paid for with public money). The public should have right to reply and challenge centralisation of services and when their hospital is used as a case study for closure.

Newry Mourne & Down Council, MPS, MLAs and the community all can be confident in the knowledge that Newry & Mourne LGD has been short changed and is long overdue the required investment in a major Specialist Acute Hospital in Newry City instead being bartered off with a Regional Elective centre or privatised Community Health Centre instead of a Major Specialist Acute hospital with a 24/7 Consultant- Led Type 1 Emergency Department & Consultant- Led Maternity.

Newry South Down and South Armagh Area Hospital -Daisy Hill, Newry City.

BACKGROUND AND REFERENCES

THE ORGANISATION OF NI HEALTH CARE IS STILL UNDER THE 26 COUNCIL MODEL

Operational areas in Health trusts still remain under the 26 council model.

The Five LGDs in Southern Trust in consistent order of size since Establishment of the Southern Trust on 1st April 2007 according to NISRA are:

>1st Newry & Mourne;

>2nd Craigavon;

>3rd Armagh:

>4th Dungannon:

>5th Banbridge

SoS Daisy Hill Hospital Campaign Rally - another show of community strength in Newry city on 25.06.2023. Estimated 10,000 attended the Rally in Marcus Square, Newry and then walked up to Daisy Hill Acute Hospital.

NEWRY & MOURNE LGD POPULATION

As verified by official NISRA statistics, for over 50 YEARS since 1971, Newry & Mourne LGD has ranked in the TOP 4 HIGHEST POPULATIONS in NI with Belfast, Lisburn (Greater Belfast) and Derry.

Based on population size, Daisy Hill should have a major Hospital the same size as Altnagelvin as its population size is very similar, and based on both population size, number of patients on GP Registers (c161,000) and on its location -Daisy Hill should have a larger Specialist Acute hospital than Antrim, Craigavon, or Ulster Hospitals. Why? Because Newry & Mourne LGD has a population bigger than Antrim LGD, Castlereagh LGD, and also Craigavon LGD, who all have major acute hospitals already.

The Newry & Mourne LGD and Daisy Hill acute Hospital cannot be ignored any longer as there are many factors which require proper hospital services funding and commissioning in this area (1) it has the large population, (2) the highest number of births, (3) the Location

REFERENCES

*Main Reference: This Table comes from the Southern Local Commissioning Group Locality -Population Plan ‘Changing For A Better Future’ 2013 Report on p18.* Also see p2 for important information in the Foreword. To Download a copy, please see the Download button below

Southern-LCG-Locality-Pop-Plan-September-2013 – Copy Download

Other References

Transforming Your Care : https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/topics/health-policy/transforming-your-care#toc-0

Transforming Your Care (TYC): Vision to Action. A Consultation Document 9^th Oct 2012 to 15^th Jan 2013.

Transforming Your Care (TYC) : Vision to Action – A post Consultation Report March – 2013

The TYC Consultation Document ‘ Vision to Action’ was “based on the draft Population Plans which have been developed by Local Commissioning Groups with input from HSC Trusts, to reflect local needs and a Draft Strategic Implementation Plan which gives a wider NI overview.” (p3 Vision to Action. A Consultation Document 9^th Oct 2012 to 15^th Jan 2013).

“Population planning and local commissioning to be the central approach for organising services and delivering change.” (p8 TYC)

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.

You can also read, like and share this post on Facebook at : Playing with numbers, playing with people’s lives

You may also be interested in other posts on Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry city, like: https://savedaisyhillhospital.com/2022/02/28/daisy-hill-hospital-newry-is-one-of-the-nine-major-acute-hospitals-in-the-regional-network-designated-in-2003-like-antrim-ulster-etc/

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06.15.23

by Admin 4

Newry & Mourne LGD population abandoned by the Health authorities paid to provide for them in Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry.

FACT: For over 50 YEARS since 1971, Newry & Mourne LGD has ranked in the TOP 4 HIGHEST POPULATIONS in NI with Belfast, Lisburn (Greater Belfast) and Derry. (As verified by NISRA Statistics).

The highest population in the Southern Trust - Newry & Mourne LGD has been abandoned by the Health authorities paid to provide acute services for them in Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry.

Based on the population size of Newry & Mourne LGD, (106,813 people in 2020 (NISRA) – Newry City should have a Major Specialist state of the art Acute hospital (as planned by Newry & Mourne Health & Social Services Trust) with the same specialist acute services, inpatient beds and diagnostics as Altnagelvin Hospital and Craigavon Hospital.

It should be noted that while Newry & Mourne Local Government District (LGD) has a similar population size to Derry LGD, Newry & Mourne LGD has ALWAYS had a Higher population size than Craigavon Local Government District.

DAISY HILL, NEWRY IS A GOVERNMENT DESIGNATED MAJOR ACUTE HOSPITAL

In 2003 it was finally acknowledged by the Department of Health, that with the 4th highest population in NI, Newry & Mourne was entitled to have a major functioning acute hospital based on assessed need.

Following Regional Consultation on the DoH’s Developing Better Services, Daisy Hill Acute Hospital Newry City was designated one of 9 Major Acute Hospitals which would form a network of Specialist Acute Hospitals across NI.

This ensured that no matter where anyone lived in NI every person would have equal access within one hour to 24/7 Consultant Led Accident and Emergency Services, and 24/7 Consultant Led Maternity Services in one of nine Acute Hospitals in a Regional “seamless web of care.”

The number of people living within a locality (LGD) is supposed to be the primary factor when commissioning health Services – so why has the highest population in the Southern Trust in Newry & Mourne LGD been abandoned by the Health Authorities who are paid to provide acute services in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City?

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust (who replaced Newry & Mourne Health and Social Services Trust in 2007) never had any intention of re-developing Daisy Hill Hospital into the major acute hospital the population of Newry & Mourne were entitled to. They were only interested in redeveloping Craigavon hospital.

Consequently now in 2023 after repeated excuses and public statements the Southern Trust have managed to destroy the reputation of the brilliant hospital they inherited from N&MHSST. The Southern Trust’s centralisation agenda and the organisation’s own inability/or refusal to recruit and retain staff has taken its toll on staff in the hospital resulting in the major public health crisis the population of Newry & Mourne now finds itself in.

The men, women and children of the Newry & Mourne population should not have the fear and worry which comes from the consistent drastic reduction of specialist services and inpatient beds from the major specialist acute hospital Daisy Hill, Newry City.

The main graphic shows the Southern Trust area and its 2 Acute hospitals. Newry & Mourne has the largest land mass (898.3 square Km) of all the 5 localities in the Southern Trust area.

Since the Southern Trust took over admin of Daisy Hill Acute Hospital on 1st April 2007, Newry & Mourne has ALWAYS has the highest population, highest number of births and highest number of children u18 of all the 5 LGDs in the Southern Trust.

Official statistics, as presented by NISRA must determine where Specialist acute Hospitals are located in NI.

BACKGROUND – The organisation of Health Care in NI

The former 26 Councils or Local Government Districts (LGDS) or localities are still named in legislation and remain as the Operational area of NI Health Trusts (Establishment Order 2006) and Commissioning Groups. In the Southern Trust area, there are still FIVE LGDs named as shown below and in graphic.

The Five LGDs in Southern Trust in consistent order of size since Establishment of the Southern Trust on 1st April 2007 according to NISRA are:

>1st Newry & Mourne;

>2nd Craigavon;

>3rd Armagh:

>4th Dungannon:

>5th Banbridge

Total LGD population order of size: (NISRA 2020):

>1st Newry & Mourne: 106,813

>2nd Craigavon: 103,341

>3rd Armagh: 63,874

>4th Dungannon: 63,552

>5th Banbridge: 50,567

Total LGD population Under 18’s: in order of population size, (NISRA 2020):

>1st Newry & Mourne: 28,116

>2nd Craigavon: 25,804

>3rd Armagh: 16,334

>4th Dungannon: 16,938

>5th Banbridge: 12,274

Official Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) Statistics.

Newry & Mourne, South Armagh Acute Area Hospital at Daisy Hill, in Newry city

ACTION 1

How you can help

For Related Information

For another article on populations, the hospitals of the region including Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry -see also : https://savedaisyhillhospital.com/2020/01/15/ni-health-crisis-cut-in-number-of-specialist-acute-hospitals-their-uneven-spread-since-1995-is-a-major-factor/

The concentrated support of Newry Mourne and Down Council, to call for action and proper treatment of Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, the Area Hospital for Newry & Mourne and South Armagh is needed -for more info: https://wordpress.com/post/savedaisyhillhospital.com/3146

The people of Newry & Mourne LGD and surrounding areas show their support at the Save our Emergency Surgery March to Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry on April 2023

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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06.01.23

by Admin 4

Newry City & District Health Rights Info Page

We are many, we are strong and the Law is here to protect our Right to Healthcare

Newry & Mourne LGD has always had the highest population, highest number of births and highest number of children of the 5 localities in the Southern Trust area.

POPULATION NEED IN NEWRY & MOURNE

Newry & Mourne LGD* has always had the highest population; highest number of births and highest number of children aged under 18 of the five localities /LGDs) in the Southern Trust area.

(*See below for info on the 5 LGD populations in the Southern Trust )

Population Need: Newry & District GP Federation

Newry & District with 159,599 patients – has the 2nd Highest number of patients registered with the 17 GP Federations in all NI. (Derry is the highest and Newry & District is the Second Highest. Figures: 2021/22)

Newry & District has the 2nd Highest number of children in NI under 18 (36,117). Figures: 2021/22)

* The Newry & Mourne LGD is still relevant as the former 26 Council Model is still used today in terms of the ‘operational areas’ of the Health and Social Care Trusts in NI.

There are FIVE Local Government Districts (LGDs) in the Southern Trust area. In consistent order of population size since the Southern Health Trust was established in 2007, they rank:

>(1st) Newry & Mourne

>(2nd) Craigavon

>(3rd) Armagh

>(4th) Dungannon

>(5th) Banbridge.

Newry & Mourne LGD has a population of 106,813 with 28,116 (Children Under-18s) (2020 NISRA )

Newry & Mourne LGD has always had the highest population; highest number of births and highest number of children aged under 18 of the five localities /LGDs) in the Southern Trust area.

LAWS WHICH PROTECT YOU RE: HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE /PUBLIC SERVICES

>Human Rights Act 1998, (Right to life…etc)

>NI Act 1998, (Section 75 Equality categories including disability, political opinion, race, and so on)

>Fair Treatment and Employment Legislation (Access to premises)

>Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016

>Climate Change Act (NI) 2022, (Carbon Footprint etc)

>Regulatory Impact Assessments

>The Southern Health Social Services Trust (Establishment) Order (NI) 2006

>The Southern Health Social Services Trust (Dissolution Order) (NI) 2006

>Managing Public Money (NI)

We have to pre-pay for our hospital services in Daisy Hill Acute Area Hospital, Newry city through Regional Rates, Taxes and National insurance deductions from our wages so are entitled to value for money.

The Population need in Newry & Mourne and all Laws shown here must be adhered to by all relevant authorities when they commission and/or remove hospital services and accommodation.

Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry City –the Acute Area Hospital for Newry & Mourne, South Armagh

Other Useful Information on Your Rights is available from NI Direct website: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/find-out-your-rights

Independent advice is available from the following organisations

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission Website: https://nihrc.org/
Equality Commission for Northern Ireland https://www.equalityni.org/Home
Advice NI https://www.adviceni.net/about

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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05.08.23

by Admin 4

Transformed before your very eyes – is the Plan for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City to be replaced by a Regional Planned Surgery Centre?

It was confirmed by the Clinicians at the recent Emergency Surgery public meeting on the 22nd March 2023 in the Canal Court, Newry that the Southern Trust and Department of Health’s plan is to turn Daisy Hill Specialist Acute hospital into a Regional Elective (planned surgery) Centre.

Daisy Hill Acute Hospital had been previously designated by Government to provide timely access to 24/7 Emergency Surgery and Emergency Medical Services and Consultant led Maternity Services but the Southern Trust’s Chief Executive confirmed that ‘plans to turn the hospital into an elective overnight stay centre were progressing’ at the Canal Court Hotel public meeting.

BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BECOME A REGIONAL ELECTIVE CARE CENTRE?

Department of Health (DoH) Reports are clear on how they intend to provide elective care (planned surgery rather than Emergency or unplanned treatment). “Hospitals designated as Elective Care Centres will be used for outpatient assessments, diagnostics, day surgery or short stay inpatient surgery UNINTERRUPTED BY EMERGENCY ADMISSIONS.”

The Patient and Client Council have stated that “Elective care centres are specialist STANDALONE units DEDICATED PURELY to the delivery of PLANNED assessment and treatment…In practice, this means providing more treatment on a smaller number of specially designed standalone sites by moving this activity away from the busiest hospital sites.”

If Elective care centres are DEDICATED PURELY to the delivery of PLANNED assessment and treatment (for Regional Consultants and their patients) – what other specialist acute inpatient care services will be provided in Daisy Hill, Newry City FOR THE LONG TERM FUTURE for the 159,599 adults and children on Newry and District GP Registers, should it become an elective care centre? These specialist acute services should include 24/7 Type 1 Emergency Surgery and Emergency Medicine, inpatient paediatric services, HDU, Diagnostics, Maternity etc and clinical staff and inpatient beds (other than for Elective care)

2 STEPS ON THE WAY TO BECOMING A REGIONAL ELECTIVE CENTRE:

STEP 1: REMOVE EMERGENCY SURGERY / STEP 2: REMOVE MORE ACUTE SERVICES

(1) The Trust controversially withdrew the life saving Emergency Surgery service from Daisy Hill in Newry city, in Feb 2022 requiring all Southern Trust patients to travel to Craigavon Hospital. Having after being withdrawn temporarily, the Trust now proposes all life saving Emergency Surgery will be permanently withdrawn from Newry City and will be only provided only in future in Craigavon. This withdrawal of Emergency Surgery service will also assist in the plan to prepare to turn Daisy Hill Hospital into a Regional elective centre.

(2) The Trust’s next plan is to REMOVE other acute services from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital and send these services to a Community Treatment Centre in Newry. This was announced by Future Group Chairman Dr Patterson at the Canal Court public meeting describing the arrangement with the phrase to “free up space.” (This community centre will be privately and not HSC owned).

>IS THE PLAN FOR DAISY HILL TO BECOME A REGIONAL ELECTIVE CARE CENTRE INSTEAD OF A SPECIALIST ACUTE HOSPITAL?

If so, this proposal is a HUGE change of purpose for Newry & District’s designated Acute Hospital, at Daisy Hill, Newry. This means that any Regional Surgeon, (either NHS or from a Private hospital), will come to Daisy Hill for planned (elective) operations on their own regional patients from anywhere in NI using the existing operating theatres, beds, staff, and equipment in Daisy Hill.

Controversial changes such as the change in Status/purpose of ANY of the 9 designated NI Acute Hospitals in NI (including Daisy Hill) from a Specialist Acute Hospital to a Regional Elective Care Centre must go to DOH NI wide Regional public consultation before any such decisions are made.

POPULATION FACTS : THE NEWRY & MOURNE LOCALITY IS THE HIGHEST POPULATION IN THE SOUTHERN TRUST AREA

The former Newry & Mourne locality is one of 5 local government districts in the Southern Trust operational area. Newry & Mourne (which includes South Armagh) IS and ALWAYS HAS BEEN the highest population in the Southern Trust. This population (along with other neighbouring areas and visitors) is served by Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in Newry.

The NI public pay for Health and Social Care services through Regional Rates bills, Taxes and National Insurance deductions from their wages. The public must be consulted and asked to agree /approve changes to services for which they are paying and have paid to maintain – especially Changes that involve Withdrawal of services from a designated NI Acute Hospital.

CONCLUSION:

REGIONAL PUBLIC CONSULTATION IS REQUIRED BEFORE DAISY HILL ACUTE HOSPITAL IS CHANGED TO A REGIONAL ELECTIVE CARE CENTRE

This is potentially unacceptable further withdrawal of specialist acute hospital services from Daisy Hill Hospital on a massive scale without Consultation or any due regard to the NI Rural Needs Act 2016, Equality Legislation, Fair Treatment and Employment 1998 or Change or Withdrawal of Services and population needs assessment .

Any change in Status/purpose of Daisy Hill from Acute Hospital to Regional Elective Care Centre dressed up as ‘transformation’ or ‘reconfiguration’ must be challenged by the Public and all Elected Representatives who believe In Equality and Timely Access to Healthcare in Newry & Mourne- South Down and South Armagh. This cannot go ahead without NI wide Regional Consultation for scrutiny and evaluation by the NI Assembly and public alike under the 2009 Act before any such decisions are made.

To end the uncertainty surrounding Daisy Hill, and for more information on plans for Newry’s Daisy Hill Acute Hospital and elective care centres –you can ask the local representatives on the Southern Local Commissioning Group, the Southern Trust, DoH NI, and Patient Client Council.

These organisations should be able to clarify and explain in detail what future plans they have for Daisy Hill Hospital and whether the concerns written about here are valid.

References and Further Reading:

Patient Client Council, Elective Care in Northern Ireland, 10th July 2019.

Main DoH NI Elective Care Framework links :

https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/elective-care-framework-restart-recovery-and-redesign

https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/doh-elective-care-framework-restart-recovery-redesign.pdf (*pgs 24, 63, 74, 75)

Elective Care Framework Restart, Recovery and Redesign 2021

Elective Care, is care that is planned in advance as opposed to Emergency or unplanned treatment. (p24: *Elective Care Framework Restart, Recovery and Redesign 2021).

“This requires commitment from all Trusts that in sites identified as regional elective care centres, that BEDS AND STAFF must be RING FENCED for the delivery of regional elective care.” (p63 *Elective Care Framework Restart, Recovery and Redesign 2021)

“Partnerships and cross-sector collaboration are ESSENTIAL. New services or interventions created, or existing ones that are transformed, WILL NOT ALWAYS BE HSC OWNED.” (p74 *Elective Care Framework Restart, Recovery and Redesign )

“We need more sites providing dedicated elective services that are ENTIRELY SEPARATE from unscheduled care.” ( p75 *Elective Care Framework Restart, Recovery and Redesign )

More References and further reading to follow soon

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Daisy Hill Acute Hospital for Life, Daisy Hill acute hospital, Newry city.

04.03.23

by Admin 4

THE TIME TO BUILD A MAJOR SPECIALIST ACUTE HOSPITAL IN NEWRY CITY IS NOW!

The most urgent Capital Priority and counter proposal when answering the Southern Trust Emergency Surgery Consultation is to build a Major new Specialist Acute Hospital in Newry city – not a community treatment centre.

This Capital Priority needed right now for Newry & Mourne is funding and business plan for a Specialist Acute Hospital building for the area, as agreed at Government level in 2005 so it is LONG overdue.

According to the Southern Trust, the Department of Health NI has allocated £4.5 million to spend on progressing acute health services in Newry city. The Trust says this funding was to purchase a site at Abbey Way, Newry and associated design for a new community treatment centre. But to progress acute services they should be provided in an ACUTE HOSPITAL in Newry just like in Craigavon – not just in a treatment centre. The £4.5million site, at Abbey Way, Newry, is large enough and the ideal place for a NEW Major Specialist Acute Hospital Building.

Official statistics have proven over and over that the large size of the growing population in the long established settlement in Newry & District justifies funding for a new build major Specialist Acute hospital in Newry City, as since 1971, Newry & Mourne LGD has always been in the top 4 highest populations in NI (after Belfast, Lisburn (Greater Belfast) and Derry) and Newry & Mourne LGD is projected to be the 3^rd Highest by 2026. (A higher population than Derry) (NISRA)

Funding plans for a new hospital to upgrade Daisy Hill Acute Hospital were announced for Newry by previous Secretary of State, Sir Peter Hain in 2005 to match the population size. This funding has still not been followed up by the Southern Trust in their Capital Priorities Programme submitted to the Department of Health/ DoH, but the population has not forgotten.

Building a new Specialist Acute Area Hospital building in Newry could then complement the Daisy Hill Hospital building, if the intention is to reconfigure Daisy Hill into a ring-fenced elective care centre (instead of a specialist acute hospital) as the Southern Trust have proposed.

The proposed removal of Emergency Surgery from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry city to Craigavon is forefront in people’s minds. At the recent public meeting in the Canal Court Hotel, the few people who were allowed to speak made it clear to the Southern Trust representatives there that they were totally opposed to removal of emergency surgery, and questioned the Trust’s constant removal of acute services from Newry, as well as the Southern Trust’s failure to provide beds for patients and diagnostic equipment for Staff in Daisy Hill, Newry city.

If the DoH and Southern Trust are now ready to offer some long overdue capital investment to actually provide specialist acute services in a specialist hospital in Newry instead of transferring services, beds and equipment to Craigavon, then the people of Newry & Mourne, South Armagh and surrounding areas may well be interested in their proposals.

If the Southern Trust fail to provide for the Newry & Mourne population, and keep up this policy of transferring specialist services to Craigavon, they will be called out on this as it goes against the Rural Needs Act and other legislation.

Calls for fair treatment can be expressed through talking to Councillors, asking for an emergency Council meeting and through responding in writing to the Consultation on Emergency Surgery.

The Southern Trust need to listen to what we want – not continue telling us what we can’t have.

This is the one and only chance in your lifetime you are ever going to get to write to the Southern Trust what you want, what you pay for through Rates and Taxes, and more importantly what you are entitled to. The Southern Trust have a statutory duty to take into account in their decision making and responses, any suggestions you make in reply to the consultation on removal of emergency surgery from Newry to Craigavon.

That is why when 19,000 people including over 12,000 people from this area opposed the centralisation of Stroke services to Craigavon, Altnagelvin and Belfast the Department of Health couldn’t go ahead with their unfair proposals because of the opposition.

We have a right to challenge the constant removal of Specialist Acute Services especially Emergency Surgery and Emergency Medical Services from Newry to Craigavon.

Daisy Hill for Life is asking people of Newry, Mourne and Down to write NO to the questions in the Southern Trust Consultation Questionnaire on centralising Emergency surgery to Craigavon.

People power through Consultations -Based on demographics Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry should be confirmed as a location for a Hyperacute and Acute Stroke Unit

Please also speak/write to your Councillors, MLAs, MPs and Trade Unions asking them for their support in rejecting the Southern Trust’s proposal to remove Emergency Surgery from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry. (How to contact them : see this page: https://savedaisyhillhospital.com/how-you-can-help/ )

Please also ask for their support for the need for the long overdue Major new Specialist Acute Hospital Building in Newry – not a community treatment centre. A new Major Specialist Acute Hospital building will also bring huge economic benefits to Newry, including construction jobs.

IMPORTANT RELATED CONTENT

Read how Newry & Mourne Local Government District was incorrectly made to look like the smallest population in Southern Trust area when it was really the largest, in a crucially important Population Plan Table, created in 2013 for the influential ‘Transforming Your Care’ Health Review – Playing with numbers, playing with people’s lives

This article also gives vitally important information on the population sizes of the 5 Local Government Districts which make up the Southern Health and Social Care Trust operational area.

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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02.28.22

by Admin 4

Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry is one of the 9 Major Acute Hospitals in the Regional Network, designated in 2003 like Antrim, Ulster, etc

Newry & Mourne, South Armagh Area Acute Hospital at Daisy Hill, in Newry city

Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry earned the right to be recognised as a Major functioning Acute Hospital because it was designated in 2003 as one of the nine Major Acute Hospitals, in its own right, like Antrim, Ulster, the Royal Group, etc. These nine acute hospitals were designated to provide 24/7 vital life saving Emergency Surgery and Emergency Medical Care to the population of NI no matter where they choose to live. (Ref 1*)

The population size of Newry & Mourne has consistently been the largest Locality in the Southern Trust operational area and the population needs Emergency Surgery in their Type 1 Emergency Department at Daisy Hill, Newry city. (Ref 2)

Since Famine times (1840’s) Newry’s Area Hospital and its compassionate staff have provided an open door to Emergency or Unscheduled care to everyone who went to there for help.

But now in February 2022, the Southern Health and Social Care Trust are withdrawing vital life saving Emergency Surgery from Daisy Hill Hospital Newry City, again without Public Consultation, or adhering to statutory duties imposed on Health Trusts by Section 75 of the NI Act 1998. They are yet again citing Southern Trust recruitment problems as the reason.

Firstly in 2016 they said they couldn’t get any consultants to replace the consultant who was retiring. The Health Minister at the time fairly agreed to fund Locums to keep the Emergency Department up and running until permanent consultants were recruited.

Since 2016, the Southern Trust, without going to any Public Consultation, have used their own recruitment problems as an excuse to avoid carrying out their Statutory function to Provide Hospital Accommodation and Services in the 24/7 Emergency Surgical and /or Emergency Medical Department in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City.

In March 2020 The Southern Trust – the only Health Trust in NI to shut down a Type1 Acute Hospital vital life saving Emergency Department for 7 months, refused to keep the doors of Daisy Hill open to provide Emergency Surgery, Emergency Medical and Respiratory Care in Daisy Hill, Newry City, when it was needed most by the Newry & Mourne population of 106,813 people, including 28,116 under 18s at the beginning of the Covid Pandemic.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust stated that Emergency Surgery and Emergency Medical and Respiratory Care for the whole Southern Trust population would only be provided in Craigavon, leaving Newry, South Down and South Armagh without any Emergency Surgical, Emergency Medical, or Respiratory Care for children or adults alike, while Craigavon would have 2 EDs for adults and 1 new ED for Children.

Covid 19 does not excuse them from Screening and Equality Impact Assessments.

The Southern Trust are required under Section 75 of the 1998 NI Act to address the impact their decision to remove Emergency Surgery will have on people of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status, sexual orientation, men and women generally, people who are disabled and those who are not and people who have dependants and those without in the Newry & Mourne – South Down and South Armagh area. (Ref: 3)

The three good relations categories are people of different religious belief, political opinion, and racial group. (Ref 4)

FUNCTION OF THE SOUTHERN HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES TRUST

The Southern Trust needs to stop looking for ways to centralise Emergency Services to Craigavon and provide more – (not less) beds, equipment, more medical staff, and bring Daisy Hill (Newry, South Down and South Armagh Area Hospital up to state of the art modern building standards with its fair share of capital expenditure investment as they are constantly doing in Craigavon.

They need to acknowledge and comply with their Functions clearly set out in the Southern Health and Social Services Trust 2006 Establishment Order (Ref 5)

which are:-

2(a)”to provide hospital accommodation and services at Craigavon Area Hospital, Craigavon, Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry, Longstone Hospital, Armagh, Lurgan Hospital, Lurgan, Mullinure Hospital, Armagh, St Luke’s Hospital, Armagh, and South Tyrone Hospital, Dungannon, and associated premises;
Southern Health and Social Services Trust 2006 Establishment Order

The Southern Trust Establishment Order does not give them the right to WITHDRAW accommodation (beds) or services (including staff) from Daisy Hill hospital.

If the Southern Trust want to take away vital life saving Emergency Surgery services which have been there for over 100 years, then they need to have a better excuse than their own inability to recruit medics.

And if the Southern Trust are genuinely concerned about their inability to recruit medics then they can recruit general surgery Locums for Daisy Hill like they are recruiting for Craigavon Hospital.

( BACKGROUND)

Ref 1 * Developing Better Services 2003, Department of Health NI

*Please Note: There are now 10 ten acute hospitals -as it was shown that the New South West Hospital in Enniskillen was also needed. (See also: https://savedaisyhillhospital.com/2017/08/17/daisy-hill-hospital-an-acutely-important-fact/

and https://savedaisyhillhospital.com/2022/02/07/newry-citys-acute-hospital-daisy-hill-is-entitled-to-its-rightful-place-in-the-ni-type-1-acute-hospital-regional-network/

Ref 2: See Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency NISRA Tables at ; https://www.nisra.gov.uk/

Ref 3: https://www.equalityni.org/ECNI/media/ECNI/Publications/Individuals/Leaflet-KnowYourRights.pdf

Ref 4: https://www.equalityni.org/ECNI/media/ECNI/Publications/Employers%20and%20Service%20Providers/Public%20Authorities/Good_Relations_Public-Authorities-Summary_Guide.pdf

Ref 5: Southern Health and Social Services Trust (Establishment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2006

Southern Health and Social Services Trust (Establishment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2006

Nature and functions of the trust:

2(a) to provide hospital accommodation and services at:

Craigavon Area Hospital, 68 Lurgan Road, Portadown, Craigavon BT63 5QQ,

Daisy Hill Hospital, 5 Hospital Road, Newry, BT35 8DR,

Longstone Hospital, 73 Loughgall Road, Armagh BT61 7PR,

Lurgan Hospital, Sloan Street, Lurgan, Co Armagh BT66 8NS,

Mullinure Hospital, Loughall Road, Armagh BT61 7NN,

St Luke’s Hospital, 71 Loughgall Road, Armagh, BT61 7NQ,

South Tyrone Hospital, Carland Road, Dungannon BT71 4AU, and associated premises;

(b) to provide community based health and personal social services from the trust headquarters and associated premises; and

(c) to exercise, on behalf of Health and Social Services Boards, such relevant functions as are so exercisable by the trust by virtue of authorisations for the time being in operation under Article 3(1) of the Health and Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1994
Southern Health and Social Services Trust (Establishment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2006

Daisy Hill Emergency Department served 53555+ people in 2016 - banner

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02.20.22

by Admin 4

TIME TO ADDRESS EQUALITY – SOUTHERN TRUST MUST ADDRESS SECTION 75 DUTIES – DURING THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, NOT AFTERWARDS.

It appears that the Southern Trust have decided, against the wishes of the people who have paid for the service, to remove Emergency Surgery from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City from 28th February 2022, leaving the population abandoned without any nearby alternative to provide life saving Emergency Surgery.

This highly controversial decision has been made by the Southern Trust without any Public Consultation, or Equality Impact Assessment showing they had not given due regard to their duties under Section 75 of the 1998 NI Act.

These Section 75 duties have to be addressed DURING the decision-making process, NOT AFTERWARDS. The Equality Commission in NI gives clear guidance to Public Authorities on their duties under Section 75 NI 1998 Act.

The Southern Trust are required under Section 75 of the 1998 NI Act to address the impact their decision to remove Emergency Surgery will have on people of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status, sexual orientation, men and women generally, people who are disabled and those who are not and people who have dependants and those without in the Newry, Mourne South Down and South Armagh Area.

The three good relations categories are: people of different religious belief; political opinion and racial group.

It is a fundamental right of everyone who is in need of Immediate life saving Emergency Surgical Care to be seen immediately as at present in all of the ten Emergency Departments in NI no matter where they are located within NI.

Just as in the Western Trust (with a total population of 301,448*) there is need for TWO Specialist Acute Stroke Units - so too, the Southern Trust (with a larger population of 380,312*) is also entitled to TWO Specialist Stroke Units (HASUs and Acute Stroke Units), at Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry and Craigavon Hospital. This would ensure that everyone in the Southern Trust has immediate access to CT scanning and life saving thrombolysis, followed by direct access into a stroke unit. — Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry City is the longest established major acute hospital in the Southern Trust

The people of Newry & Mourne (which includes South Down and South Armagh) continue to pay extensively through Rates and Taxes including National Insurance contributions to ensure they have a fully functioning Acute Hospital with a 24/7 Type 1 Emergency Surgery and Emergency Medical Department, to look after their population should they need it when they are at their most sick and vulnerable at the Newry & Mourne, South Armagh Area Hospital at Daisy Hill.

Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry City is the longest established major acute hospital in the Southern Trust – We have a right to have our say through meaningful Public Consultation and be shown Equality Impact Assessments when any service the Southern Trust must provide is being taken away. We have prepaid for our Life Saving Emergency services and are entitled to Value for Money the same as everyone else in NI.

This is not up for negotiation.

Newry & Mourne has always had the largest population in the operational area of the Southern Trust with a population of 106,813 including 28,116 aged Under 18. (NISRA 2020).

Newry City must have a fully functioning Major Acute Hospital which includes Consultant Led Type 1 ED with Emergency Surgery like all of the Acute Hospital Type 1 Regional Network EDs in NI.

KEYFACTS

Daisy Hill Acute Hospital is located in Newry, Gateway City to NI, where (in Jan to Dec 2021) 51,668 men, women and children needed Emergency Surgical and/or Emergency Medical Care.

In the year April 2018 to March 2019 (before the Southern Trust closed DHH ED at the start of Covid) over 2,200 patients were admitted to Daisy Hill acute Hospital for non-elective surgery through the Emergency Department.

This is a clear indication of the need for this vital life saving service

Section 75 duties have to be addressed DURING the decision-making process, NOT AFTERWARDS. The Equality Commission in NI gives clear guidance to Public Authorities on their duties under Section 75 NI 1998 Act. — Section 75 Duties must be addressed by Public Authorities

Section 75 duties must be addressed DURING the decision-making process, NOT AFTERWARDS. The Equality Commission in NI gives clear guidance to Public Authorities on their duties under Section 75 NI 1998 Act.

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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© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2023. 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.

02.15.22

by Admin 4

WAITING TIMES IN EDs ACROSS N.I. SHOW CENTRALISATION OF EMERGENCY SURGERY FROM DAISY HILL HOSPITAL, NEWRY CITY TO CRAIGAVON IS NOT A SAFE OR VIABLE OPTION

N. Ireland Acute Hospital Emergency Dept Waiting Times 2021

The Southern Trust’s proposal to centralise Emergency Surgery from Daisy Hill Hospital Type 1 Emergency Department, Newry City, expecting patients needing immediate life saving emergency surgery to go to Craigavon, is not a viable or safe alternative.

As the accompanying ED Attendances Waiting Times Table shows: in the year Jan 2021 to Dec 2021 Craigavon ED had 11,009 patients who had to wait over 12 hours to be seen, discharged or admitted to hospital.

Dr Paul Kerr, Vice President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine Northern Ireland on a BBC programme on 12 Feb 2022 speaking about long delays and long waits in Emergency Departments in NI in December 2021 said:

“The situation in Emergency Departments in Northern Ireland is dire, the data show that it is very bad indeed. The reality is that patient care is now regularly being compromised, their safety is at risk.
“We know that delays and long-waits in Emergency Departments are closely associated with patient harm and poor outcomes. The Royal College’s report ‘Crowding and its Consequences’ found that one in 67 patients waiting for 12 hours or more are associated with avoidable harm or potential death within 30 days.”

Southern Trust - highest number on Urgent Waiting list for CT scan in 2017-18, in all NI Health Trusts

It is because nobody knows who is going to need Emergency Surgery or Emergency Medical Care that the Regional Network of Type 1 EDs (in the accompanying Table) were designated IN ALL 10 Acute Hospitals in a FAIR GEOGRAPHICAL provision of Emergency Surgical and Emergency Care across NI.

Centralisation of Emergency surgery from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City to Craigavon is not a safe or viable option.

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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© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2023. We welcome sharing of this info and the use of excerpts and links, provided that full and clear credit is given to http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com and Daisy Hill for Life with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank-you.

02.07.22

by Admin 4

NEWRY CITY’S ACUTE HOSPITAL DAISY HILL IS ENTITLED TO ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE IN THE NI TYPE 1 ACUTE HOSPITAL REGIONAL NETWORK

Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in Newry is one of Ten designated Acute Hospitals all of Equal importance in the Regional Type 1 ED Network of Northern Ireland to create a seamless web of care.

DAISY HILL ACUTE HOSPITAL, NEWRY CITY IS ENTITLED TO ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE IN THE DESIGNATED NI NETWORK OF ACUTE HOSPITALS WITH 24/7 EMERGENCY SURGICAL AND MEDICAL CARE.

The Southern Trust are proposing yet again to withdraw Emergency Surgery Services from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City, without adhering to any procedures that every other Health Trust has to follow, such as public consultation, Department of Health “Change or Withdrawal of Services.” Guidelines, Equality Impact Assessment, Rural Needs Act, Fair Treatment and Employment Legislation or NICE Clinical recommendations.

The Southern Trust needs to recognise that Daisy Hill Acute Hospital is not a support hospital for Craigavon. Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City has been given the right to be a fully functioning Acute Hospital, with 24/7 Emergency Surgical and Medical Care Services. It has a right to its place in the Regional Network of Emergency Care provision across NI since 2003.

It was a Department of Health decision to include Daisy Hill as a vital part of the Regional Network of Acute Hospitals with 24/7 A & E Services. In 2003 the Health Minister made an announcement that following Consultation, 8,000 reports, letters, postcards and e-mails as well as petitions bearing some 40,000 signatures that a Network of ten Acute Hospitals with 24/7 Emergency Departments with Accommodation, Emergency Surgery and Emergency Medical Care was the only way to ensure timely access to Acute Hospital Services and 24/7 Care for the entire population, no matter where they lived in NI.

The accompanying map shows Daisy Hill’s Geographic location in the designated DoH’s Network of Acute Hospitals. The ten Acute Hospitals of equal importance, each of which has a Type 1 Emergency Department covering both Urban and Rural geographic areas across NI are : Daisy Hill, Royal Victoria; Royal Belfast Children’s; Mater; Antrim; Ulster, Causeway; Craigavon; Altnagelvin and South West.

Under Human Rights Act and “Right to Life” No Health Trust or Department has the right to withdraw immediate LIFE SAVING SERVICES from one geographical area of Northern Ireland , especially since the Department of Health had decided already that it is essential to provide Emergency services in Daisy Hill, Newry location to SAVE lives.

Equality Laws and the Rural Needs Act are among the Statutory Rules put in place by the Government Departments responsible to protect the public, so that decisions made on public Health service provision are fair and equitable to all.

Action needs to be taken now by the Department of Health to protect the Services in the Regional Network of Acute Hospitals and all their Type 1 Emergency Departments across NI, before it’s too late.

Information on this and other similar topics is also available at the companion Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/daisyhillforlife/ – Thank you. Please Follow or Like the Page to receive updates.

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12.01.20

by Admin 4

WANT TO HELP DAISY HILL? YOU CAN – IF YOU REPLY TO THIS HSC CONSULTATION

Will Daisy Hill Hospital be left out again if HSC Trusts have more power? Make sure Daisy Hill isn't missing from the Network - Help shape the future, reply to the HSC Framework Consultation by 4th December 2020.

WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT REMOVAL OF ACUTE SERVICES FROM DAISY HILL ACUTE HOSPITAL, NEWRY?

Whether it’s the Type 1 ED, Specialist Stroke Unit and even vital CT scanners – it’s a Tug of War with the Southern Trust. FINALLY NOW – here’s something we can do. We have an address and an opportunity to air our views as part of a Department of Health Framework Consultation. So we MUST USE THIS OPPORTUNITY –as Daisy Hill needs us!

During the Covid pandemic, at a days notice, (without providing a nearby alternative) the Southern Trust removed Daisy Hill Acute Hospital’s 24/7 Type 1 ED services and staff to provide 3 EDs in Craigavon Hospital – one Covid 19, one non Covid 19 and a new Children’s ED.

YOU CAN HELP shape the future, and ensure Daisy Hill isn’t missing from the Regional network as Northern Ireland Rebuilds during and after covid-19 by replying to the ‘Temporary Amendments to the HSC Framework Document’ Consultation, by this Friday 4th December 2020, 5pm.

The Consultation Documents along with info on how to respond can be read in full at: www.health-ni.gov.uk/consultations/HSCframework (Additionally Consultation Links are available at the end of this article.)

IMPORTANT ASPECTS DIGESTED

The Department of Health (NI) has made temporary changes to the 2011 Health and Social Care (HSC) Framework Document where it describes the Role and Responsibilities of HSC bodies .So, the Consultation asks :

If we agree with ‘temporary’ amendments needed to change these roles and responsibilities. Although they frame it as an “administrative” change it will mean HSC Trusts will have MORE POWER than before.

2. If we agree with their decision to establish a ‘new’ Management Board for Rebuilding HSC Services in NI (which has been in operation since June 2020 without consultation, until now).

A Clear future for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital - Newry city

TRUSTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE GO AHEAD TO REBUILD AND EXPAND SERVICES WHERE THEY WANT.

The only function of Trusts before was as a ‘provider’ of hospital and community services. But as part of these amendments to the 2011 Framework Document in this Consultation – the role of Trusts is now elevated. Trusts are now responsible for assessing their population needs, planning to meet those needs and delivering ‘appropriate’ services in whatever location or hospital they deem appropriate.

If these changes to the 2011 HSC Framework Document go through according to this current Consultation, the Southern Trust will have the loudest voice influencing the future of Daisy Hill.

This will have a huge impact on all ED and specialist inpatient acute hospital services (including children’s services) in Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry as well as Capital investment shaping the future of Daisy Hill acute Hospital for good. Can you help?

PLEASE ENSURE DAISY HILL PART OF NI REBUILDING PLANS NOW – REPLY TO THE CONSULTATION

Nearly £7 billion has been allocated to the Department of Health and the Southern Trust handle over £800 million – we are entitled to our share of this. If we lose services in these Rebuilding Plans for two years to May 2022 we will not get them back. You can Reply to the Consultation to give your views and ensure Daisy Hill, Newry is part of the NI Health and Social Care Rebuilding Plans at both a Regional and local level.

As Health Minister Robin Swann MLA rightly stated at the 10th Annual Nicon Conference 2020

“Whilst we must face the challenges that lie ahead, we must also continue to rebuild; to transform our services in a way that ensures they are here for those who need them today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.”
Robin Swann MLA (10th Annual Nicon Conference 2020)

Newry & Mourne is projected to be the 3rd highest population in NI by 2025 and presently has the 3rd highest population of children in the whole of NI after only Belfast and greater Belfast.

We are entitled to the same investment as Altnagelvin. We must speak up for ourselves as we have seen that the Southern Trust priorities are not with Daisy Hill

We have to respond to this Consultation and speak up for ourselves, our children and their children to ensure retention and expansion of acute specialist acute services (including children’s services) in Daisy Hill acute Hospital in NI HSC Rebuilding plans NOW.

Ways to Respond

Dont forget the deadline is this Friday 4th December 2020, 5pm.

You can reply using the Online Consultation page available at: https://consultations.nidirect.gov.uk/doh-healthcare-policy-group/temporary-amendments-to-the-health-and-social-care/

Which ever you prefer. But please do take part – do it for your family, the future of Daisy Hill, for those who cant take part themselves and for generations to come. Full instructions for responding to this Consultation are available on the Department of Health’s website at: www.health-ni.gov.uk/consultations/HSCframework

Nearly £7 billion has been allocated to the Department of Health and the Southern Trust handle over £800 million – we are entitled to our share of this. If we lose services in these Rebuilding Plans for two years to May 2022 we will not get them back. There has been a hospital in Newry for 175 years – NO ONE IS ENTITLED TO TAKE IT AWAY.

EXTERNAL LINKS TO CONSULTATION

Consultation on Temporary Amendments to the Health and Social Care Framework Document for the period June 2020 to May 2022

All Consultation Documents can be found at www.health-ni.gov.uk/consultations/HSCframework

You can also respond to the issues using the online questionnaire, which can be accessed at the following website https://consultations.nidirect.gov.uk/doh-healthcare-policy-group/temporary-amendments-to-the-health-and-social-care

Rebuilding HSC Services Programme Coordination Office, Department of Health, Annexe 3, Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate, Belfast, BT4 3SQ

Email: RebuildingHSC.Services@health-ni.gov.uk

Telephone: 028 9052 3231

The Department of Health is inviting us all to tell them what we think about the new Amendments. If we DON’T respond we are letting the DoH and Southern Trust Rebuild (or not) for us and future generations – without us.

Thankyou.

BACKGROUND INFO AND DOCUMENTS

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY FRAMEWORK DOCUMENT 2011: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/dhssps-framework-document-september-2011

https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/winter-surge-plans (nb The Surge Planning Strategic Framework pdf (nb see APPENDIX A – CCANNI CRITICAL CARE SURGE PLAN page 59) http://www.hscboard.hscni.net/coronavirus/covid-19-rebuilding-services/hospital-services/ All Trusts Phase 1+ Phase 2 Plans

Link to Rural Needs Act: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nia/2016/19/pdfs/nia_20160019_en.pdf

Daisy Hill Hospital for Life

Campaign to enhance Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry for future generations

Tag Archives: Acute Hospital Network

Transformed before your very eyes – is the Plan for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City to be replaced by a Regional Planned Surgery Centre?

REGIONAL PUBLIC CONSULTATION IS REQUIRED BEFORE DAISY HILL ACUTE HOSPITAL IS CHANGED TO A REGIONAL ELECTIVE CARE CENTRE

NEWRY CITY’S ACUTE HOSPITAL DAISY HILL IS ENTITLED TO ITS RIGHTFUL PLACE IN THE NI TYPE 1 ACUTE HOSPITAL REGIONAL NETWORK

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