Tag Archives: Armagh

03.26.23
by

BROKEN TRUST – CALL FOR NEWRY, MOURNE & DOWN COUNCIL EMERGENCY MEETING AND MARCH FOR DAISY HILL HOSPITAL

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust came down to Newry on Wednesday 22nd March 2023 to dictate to the people that they had decided, to withdraw timely, life-saving emergency general surgery permanently, from Newry City’s Area Acute Hospital Daisy Hill.

Because of this unjust decision there is a Major public health crisis in Newry & Mourne right now, especially with this new threat to Daisy Hill of permanent removal of Emergency Surgery so that Daisy Hill can be made an Elective Care Centre, as confirmed at the public meeting on 22 March 2023

Dr O’Kane, the Southern Trust’s Chief Executive confirmed at this meeting that ‘plans to turn the hospital into an elective overnight stay centre were progressing.’  Note how they have removed the name Hospital.

The Daisy Hill Future Group Chairman Dr Conor Patterson also stated that plans were imminent to pass over the Monaghan Row Council Offices over to the Southern Trust. He also spoke of Southern Trust intentions to transfer acute services from Daisy Hill into a Community Treatment Centre in Newry. (This will be a privately built building which will be rented by the Southern Trust for 27 years, so not HSC owned).

TIME FOR ACTION – EMERGENCY COUNCIL MEETING AND MARCH NEEDED

Now it is time again, that the people asked Newry Mourne & Down Council for their concentrated support to organise to call for action and proper treatment of Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, the Area Hospital for Newry & Mourne and South Armagh.

In 2014 when the Southern Trust announced they wanted to centralise all Acute Stroke Services from Newry to Craigavon, the former Newry & Mourne Council unanimously supported the people’s campaign against this unfair and unjust decision. 

Daisy Hill Acute Hospital - enhance stroke services in Newry Public Rally 2015

Newry & Mourne Council did an excellent job of organising a large Rally and March in Newry, wrote to the Southern Trust with their objections and ran a successful united Save Our Stroke Services Campaign. This Save Our Stroke services at Daisy Hill, Newry Rally was 8 years ago this weekend on Saturday 28th March 2015.

We need Newry, Mourne and Down Council to support the people in a similar way with a united campaign to support Daisy Hill Acute Hospital and the proposed loss of another Specialist Service – this time, Emergency Surgery from the Newry city hospital.

We need Newry Mourne & Down Council’s support and for them to organise another March in Newry on a Saturday as soon as possible.

Daisy Hill for life is calling on all citizens of Newry & Mourne and Down to please contact, talk to, and write to our District Councillors for help today on the Southern trust’s plan to withdraw permanently, timely, life saving emergency general surgery from Newry City’s Area Acute Hospital Daisy Hill.

DAISY HILL HOSPITAL, NEWRY CITY IS NOT BEING TREATED FAIRLY

The Newry Mourne & Down District Council should be aware that this isn’t the first time since 2014 that Daisy Hill was under threat of permanent removal of timely life saving Acute Stroke or Acute Emergency services under the direction of the Southern Trust, especially since the publication of the advice given by: 

1. The Bengoa Report 2016 – where they used Stroke Services in the Southern Trust as a Local Case Study and canvassed for Craigavon to be the only hospital to have Acute Stroke services in the Southern Trust.

2. Regional Acute Stroke Services Consultation 2019 : Daisy Hill was in none of the 5 options in the 2019 consultation for Regional Acute Stroke Services and Craigavon was named as one of only three sure to have a hyper acute and acute stroke unit.

3. In March 2020 at a key time for the world, the Southern Trust showed complete indifference on how people of Newry & Mourne and South Armagh were supposed to access Emergency Care. All Acute Services including Emergency Medical and Surgical Services, Respiratory, Direct Assessment, Children’s ED, and Acute Clinical Staff, were removed from Daisy Hill for six months.  Again making sure that Craigavon could have two adult and 1 new Children’s Emergency Department.

4. HSC Rebuilding Plans 2020 -2021 : The Southern Trust refused to put Daisy Hill Emergency Department in the Department of Health Rebuilding Plans from March to October 2020 and Daisy Hill was excluded from the NI Critical Care Network.

5. Review of Emergency Surgery Workstreams March 2022: Daisy Hill was used as a Case Study not to have Emergency Surgery in Review of Emergency Surgery Workstreams because the Southern Trust has removed Emergency Surgery from Daisy Hill in February 2022.

6. Review of General Surgery 2022: The Southern Trust decision to permanently remove emergency surgery from Daisy Hill used as evidence  in the findings and advice of the Workstreams of the Review of General Surgery (which never went to public consultation to the NI Assembly for approval) and the advice given by Dr Mark Taylor to Minister Swann to decide on which hospitals would have Emergency Surgery services, or decide that Daisy Hill and South West Acute Hospitals should be changed permanently from major specialist acute hospitals into Regional Elective care centres

Daisy Hill in Newry City is the only Acute hospital serving the 2 Constituencies of Newry & Armagh & South Down, with Population of 235,877, including 60,327 under-18s; NISRA 2020
Daisy Hill in Newry City is the only Acute hospital serving the 2 Constituencies of Newry & Armagh & South Down, with Population of 235,877, including 60,327 under-18s; NISRA 2020

Newry, Mourne and Down is the 3rd highest Local Government District population in NI and its only Acute Area hospital at Daisy Hill, Newry must be prioritised for  funding and investment as a Major Specialist acute Hospital not just as an elective centre. The population here have no other timely access to an acute hospital in an emergency.

 Now is the time for positive action. Please contact your councillors and ask for an Emergency Council Meeting and a Public Rally/March to be organised to take place on a Saturday in Newry in support of Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry. This must happen before the Councillors break for council elections.

Contact info for your councillors available here: https://www.newrymournedown.org/your-councillors

The Consultation on Provision of Emergency Surgery in the Southern Trust closes on Friday 21st April 2023. It is also important that the people of Newry Mourne & Down take part in this consultation. More information on how you can take part in the Southern Trust Emergency Surgery Consultation 2023 will soon be provided here and on Daisy Hill for Life face book page. https://www.facebook.com/daisyhillforlife Thank you.

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

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

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Email Address:

Subscribe

06.29.22
by

2 Days to go! You need to Know! Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry and the DoH NI Urgent and Emergency Care Services Consultation 2022

2 Days to Go ! Consultation closes on Fri 1st July 2022 @ 5pm

Please respond to the DOH NI Consultation on Urgent and Emergency Care Services in Northern Ireland . For reasons why – Pls Read Why This Consultation Matters below.

Link to the Online Consultation – below:

https://consultations2.nidirect.gov.uk/doh-1/review-of-urgent-and-emergency-care-services-in-no/

Main Department of Health NI Consultation Documents are available to read here:

https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-review-urgent-and-emergency-care-services-northern-ireland

WAYS TO RESPOND to the DoH Urgent and Emergency Care Services Consultation 2022: 

 By Email > Send your completed Consultation Form
by Email to :  UECS@health-ni.gov.uk

By Online Questionnaire > Using :

https://consultations2.nidirect.gov.uk/doh-1/review-of-urgent-and-emergency-care-services-in-no/

By Post > A hard copy of your response Questionnaire can also be sent to:

Department of Health, Regional Health Transformation Directorate, Annex 3, Castle Buildings, Stormont, Belfast BT4 3SQ

WHY THIS CONSULTATION MATTERS TO THE FUTURE OF DAISY HILL ACUTE HOSPITAL IN NEWRY

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

The DOH NI Public Consultation on Urgent and Emergency care suggests we should agree to their proposals for future Urgent and Emergency care services in NI and that the services should be delivered as they were during March – Oct 2020.  We can’t be expected to agree to this, as this was when Daisy Hill Hospital Emergency Department was closed, Daisy Hill staff were relocated and 3 Emergency Departments were provided in Craigavon and none in Newry.

Because they are planning for this again – the Southern Health and Social Care Trust has received funding for and works completed (Nov2020) for a dedicated additional ambulance handover zone for Craigavon Hospital – but not for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital (Southern Trust Delivery Plan 2021/2022).

 The ‘No More Silos Action Plan’ published Oct 2020 is the document that is referred to in the NI Executive Summary Document, when Daisy Hill was excluded from the NI Regional ED Network, NI Critical Care Network and Southern Trust Rebuild Plans.  The Executive have been told “Once the public consultation has concluded, proposals will be finalised and an investment and implementation plan will be developed for Ministerial consideration” (Ref: Executive Summary p2/3)

So we can’t agree to this consultation because Daisy Hill hospital ED Newry city – is not included in the No More Silos Action Plan. Daisy Hill Hospital doesn’t feature in this future provision of ED services in NI if they go by No More Silos. We have to tell DOH what’s been left out. Remember Daisy Hill was left out of stroke options, never again must this happen! We must act/reply now or find your way whatever way you can to Craigavon, Mid Ulster.

In 2003 Daisy Hill, Newry was designated as a Major Acute Hospital with a Consultant led 24/7 ED  to ensure timely access within one hour to Emergency Surgery and Emergency Medical Care to its very large catchment population. This catchment  population depending on access to timely Emergency Surgery and Emergency Medical Care , has increased yearly since then and in  2022 Newry & District has the second highest number of patients in NI (159,599) including the 2nd highest number of children U18 (36,117) registered with GP Practices. (The Highest is in Derry -Source: BSO).

This Consultation closes this Friday 1st July 2022 So please help the community, the economy and for Daisy Hill Hospital today – help keep our Type 1 Emergency Department in Daisy Hill, Newry.

We know you are all just waiting to do whatever you can to help Daisy Hill for all our futures. WE ARE ALL STRONG WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER!

BACKGROUND:

NO MORE SILOS ACTION PLAN LINK
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/doh-no-more-silos.pdf

No More Silos is the Department of Health’s action plan to support and maintain urgent and emergency care services, making changes to existing services and introducing new ones to ensure that patients can access the right care, in the right place, and at the right time. In October 2020, the Minister of Health published an urgent and emergency care action plan called ‘No More Silos’. This sought to maintain and improve urgent and emergency care services through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

2. KEEP EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS FOR EMERGENCIES (pg 7 No More Silos Key Action 2 )

“How will it work? This action is closely linked to the following action to develop Urgent Care Centres. Under the new arrangements, direct access to Emergency Departments will only be possible for patients who arrive by ambulance or who are referred to the Emergency Department from the Urgent Care Centre or by their GP. All patients who make their own way to a hospital site will be assessed by a health professional who will determine whether they should attend ED, the Urgent Care Centre, or some other service. Care will be needed to ensure this does not lead to an increase in 999 calls for an ambulance to access ED. All patients will continue to have 24/7 access to care and advice on current ED sites”

IMPORTANT STATS

Latest May 2022 figures show (after Derry) Newry & District has the Second Highest Number of patients in NI registered with GP Practices. (159,599) including the 2nd highest number of children U18 (36,117) (Source: BSO).

These GP Registers state:

Newry & District has: The Highest number of patients in NI with Heart Failure and Heart Failure due to Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction.

2nd Highest number of Patients in NI (after only Derry) with Cardiovascular Disease Primary Prevention, Osteoporosis and Depression

3rd Highest number of Patients in NI (after Derry and Antrim) with Cancer, Coronary Heart Disease, Asthma, Atrial Fibrillation, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Diabetes, Palliative Care and Hypertension (which can lead to heart disease and Stroke).

4th Highest number of Patients with Stroke: South West is 3rd: Causeway 7th: Craigavon 10th. This must inform where stroke services are provided in NI.


© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2022. 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 on Facebook with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank-you.

Additional articles on this Consultation and other ways to respond using the longer questionnaire help is available from : IT’S 2022 AND DAISY HILL NEEDS YOU! in the Dept. of Health Urgent and Emergency Care Consultation (Closes 1st July 2022) – Daisy Hill Hospital for Life (savedaisyhillhospital.com)

and

Consultation on changes to Access to Urgent & Emergency Care Services 2022 (Department of Health NI) – Daisy Hill Hospital for Life (savedaisyhillhospital.com)

06.23.22
by

IT’S 2022 AND DAISY HILL NEEDS YOU! in the Dept. of Health Urgent and Emergency Care Consultation (Closes 1st July 2022)

WANT TO HELP DAISY HILL ACUTE HOSPITAL IN NEWRY & HELP ENSURE WE STILL HAVE LIFE-SAVING 24/7 EMERGENCY SURGICAL & MEDICAL SERVICES THERE IN THE FUTURE?

Yes, YOU CAN HELP make a difference to our future Hospital services in Newry City by answering the Dept of Health (DOH) consultation on Changes to Urgent and Emergency Services 2022 by Friday 1 July 2022 @ 5pm.

Support Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in the Reshaping stroke services Department of Health NI 2017 consultation. stroke services. Newry and Mourne is the right place for a hyperacute stroke unit.

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO TAKE PART IN THIS CONSULTATION

This Consultation proposes future Changes to How and Where we can access Emergency and Urgent Care services, and will soon involve changes to our existing services.  We all need to be involved in this or the new changes will be made without our input. 

This Consultation is about proposed Changes to Urgent and Emergency Care Services, and gives us a direct opportunity, while answering the Qs, to show the Department of Health how important it is to provide Emergency & Urgent Care services in Daisy Hill Hospital.

The Provider of Services in this area, the Southern Trust withdrew Emergency Surgery from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in March 2022 – and we would like this life-saving Emergency Care to be re-instated to Newry city.

This Department of Health Consultation places huge importance on an Action Plan called ‘No More Silos’ for future planning of Emergency services – but this No More Silos Plan was in place when the Southern Trust closed Daisy Hill’s ED during the pandemic to provide 3 EDs in Craigavon– so this is not the model of care best suited to our area. There is a real population-based need in the area and future Emergency & Urgent Care services must be commissioned for the Newry South Down and South Armagh Area Hospital -Daisy Hill, in Newry City.

A Clear vision for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital - Newry _Daisy Hill for Life
Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City

 If you would like to help by Submitting a Response to the Urgent and Emergency Care Services Consultation, or are short on time and would like some ideas – please read the Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and this website

All Responses must be submitted before Friday 1st July 2022 @5pm.

HOW TO RETURN YOUR COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRE TO THE CONSULTATION BY EMAIL

When you have finished the form – check and save your answers, then log into your email account.

Select New Email, Add the Questionnaire File as an Attachment to your new email message (using either the Paperclip icon or Add Attachment)

The Email Address to send your completed Questionnaire is UECS@health-ni.gov.uk ,

Type UECS@health-ni.gov.uk into the To box of your New Email

Write your message and finally click Send

 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH NI CONSULTATION DOCUMENTS LINK

https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-review-urgent-and-emergency-care-services-northern-ireland   

Closing Date:  Friday 1st July 2022 at 5pm

WAYS TO RESPOND: 

 By Email > Send your completed Consultation Form by Email to :  UECS@health-ni.gov.uk

By Online Questionnaire > Using :

https://consultations2.nidirect.gov.uk/doh-1/review-of-urgent-and-emergency-care-services-in-no/

By Post > A hard copy of your response Questionnaire can also be sent to:

Department of Health, Regional Health Transformation Directorate, Annex 3, Castle Buildings, Stormont, Belfast BT4 3SQ

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

Why Emergency & Urgent Care services must be provided in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in Newry

  1. DEMOGRAPHICS

Latest May 2022 figures* show Newry & District has the 2nd highest number of patients in NI registered with GP practices, (159,599) many suffering with serious illnesses who need Emergency & Urgent Care and specialist hospital services.   (Newry & District also has the 2nd highest number of Children U18 in NI). Without Daisy Hill ED there is no nearby alternative for Emergency or Urgent treatment for accidents which can happen on the road, work, home or school or during sport and leisure.   (* Background information at the end)

2. COST OF LIVING

Fuel prices are increasing – people cannot afford to drive or get taxis to Craigavon hospital if services are moved there.

3. ECONOMY & JOBS

We want to keep Jobs in our Newry South Down South Armagh Area Hospital and keep our skills-base and economy strong (Fair treatment and Employment Act).

4. CLIMATE CHANGE

Centralisation of services is bad for the Environment – puts extra cars on the road and increases carbon footprint. We are told to Shop Local to protect Economy and the Environment – why should hospital services be any different?

5. RURAL PROOFING

In 2009 the NI Executive committed to strive for a fair and inclusive rural society where rural dwellers enjoy the same quality of life as all others in the region.  There is a duty on public authorities to have due regard to rural needs ( Rural Needs Act 2016) – this must be shown by the DOH in how they commission Emergency and Urgent care services.

>Newry city needs a fully functioning acute hospital with a Type 1 ED providing Time Critical Emergency and Urgent care for its citizens.  Rates, taxes and national insurance contributions all go towards these services and you and your family are entitled to have a say where the services are provided.

*BACKGROUND 1

According to the GP Federation Register May 2022 (Source BSO)

>Newry & District has the Highest number of patients in NI with Heart Failure

>Newry & District has the 2nd Highest number of Patients in NI (after only Derry/L’Derry) with Cardiovascular Disease Primary Prevention, Osteoporosis and Depression

>Newry & District has the 3rd Highest number of Patients in NI (after Derry/L’Derry and Antrim) with Cancer, Coronary Heart Disease, Asthma, Hypertension (which can lead to heart and stroke), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Diabetes, and needing Palliative Care.

>Newry & District also has the 4th highest no of Patients in NI with Stroke, while Craigavon is 10th. This must inform where stroke services are provided in NI.

(GP Registers are the main reliable source of info you can look at for actual illness present in a local or general area to find out if there is need to provide health services there and to what extent.). 

In 2020 Newry Mourne and Down (NMD) had the highest number of Fatal collisions, Serious collisions and Number of Seriously injured according to Recorded Injury Road Traffic Collisions (RTC) statistics.

BACKGROUND 2

ROAD ACCIDENTS:

In 2020 Newry Mourne and Down (NMD) had the HIGHEST number of 

(1) Fatal collisions ,

(2) Serious collisions and

(3) Number of Seriously injured

according to Recorded Injury Road Traffic Collisions (RTC) statistics. Similar high statistics were recorded in previous years.

ROAD ACCIDENTS – CHILD CASUALITIES

U16 Child casualties following Road Traffic Collisions (Newry Mourne and Down):

In 2020/21 : NMD had the highest number of children seriously injured  and

highest number of children in NI KSI (killed or seriously injured) .

In 2019/20 NMD had joint highest no of children in NI killed,

2nd highest no of road collisions in NI resulting in child injuries or deaths and

2nd highest no of children in NI seriously injured after Belfast.

Similar high statistics were recorded since 2016/17. (Source: Recorded Injury Road Traffic Collisions statistics).

The evidence is all there – please take part in the Department of Health NI Urgent and Emergency Care Consultation 2022 and ask for Urgent and Emergency care services to be commissioned in the Newry South Down South Armagh Area Hospital, Daisy Hill in Newry city for us, our families and our future generations.  

You can keep making a difference for Daisy Hill!

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.

06.14.22
by

Consultation on changes to Access to Urgent & Emergency Care Services 2022 (Department of Health NI)

Department of Health NI proposals to radically change HOW and WHERE the public can ACCESS Accident and Emergency Care, are out for consultation, so the people can agree or disagree to this permanent Change or Withdrawal of Services.

The Urgent and Emergency Care Services Review Consultation 2022* proposes plans to re-organise the current system of ACCESS to Urgent and Emergency Care Services (including Hospitals). It also deals with “how older people and others will be offered treatment in the community to avoid admission or delays in hospital.” The Consultation says changes are needed to help with issues like over-crowded EDS, too many patients waiting over 12 hours.

What will these proposals mean for you and the people of Newry & Mourne, South Down and South Armagh, Banbridge, Armagh etc?

Future services and investment for all Hospitals in NI including Newry’s Area Hospital, Daisy Hill will depend on these new changes.

Department of Health NI Urgent and Emergency Care Services Review Consultation 2022

The Urgent and Emergency Care Consultation Report suggests that future Emergency/ Urgent Care Services should use the “experience gained locally” during the pandemic.
The people will remember that during pandemic THERE WAS NO EMERGENCY SERVICE IN NEWRY under the Southern Trust from 28th March 2020 to 19th October 2020.

The local experience / service was, the Southern Trust CLOSED the Emergency Surgery & Emergency Medical services at Daisy Hill Hospital Type 1 ED in Newry, and Daisy Hill staff were re-deployed –to provide 3 EDs including a children’s ED in Craigavon hospital.

Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in Newry was designated to be one of the 9 Major Acute Hospitals with 24/7 consultant -led Emergency Surgery and  Emergency Medical Services necessary to provide Acute hospital services fairly to everyone no matter where they choose to live in NI in 2003.    

However, at the beginning of the pandemic, the Southern Trust was  the only Health and Social Care Trust in NI to close an acute hospital Type 1 ED. 

Daisy Hill Acute Hospital has also been left out of the NI Critical Care Network, and the Southern Trust Stage 1 and Stage 2 Rebuilding plans, showing little regard for the unscheduled care needs of the large populations Daisy Hill was designated as an Acute Hospital for. 

Time for Investment for Newry +Mourne LGD 2020

The Southern Trust consistently LEAVES DAISY HILL HOSPITAL, NEWRY OUT of their necessary Capital Priorities Business plans submitted to the Department of Health.  Because of this -Daisy Hill in Newry City is the only Acute hospital in all of NI waiting on finance for future Redevelopment, especially the  NEW hospital building, which was agreed by the Secretary of State in 2005. 

PROPOSED LOCATIONS FOR URGENT AND EMERGENCY CARE SERVICES

The Department of Health Review and Consultation does not give Names of Locations for Future Urgent and  Emergency services, but instead state they will provide them in the “RIGHT PLACE”.

Newry & District with 159,600 patients has the 2nd highest number of patients on GP Federation Registers in NI.   We need to tell the Department of Health in this Consultation that based on POPULATION size, DAISY HILL ACUTE HOSPITAL, NEWRY IS THE RIGHT PLACE for Type 1 Consultant-Led Emergency Department with and Emergency Surgery and Emergency Medicine.

The Department of Health NI wants us to tell them if they have left anything out of the Urgent and Emergency Services Consultation Proposals before they finalise the plan.  All views put forward to the Consultation will go directly to the decision makers at the Department of Health; whose responsibility it is to assess the health needs of the population, and to then commission services, based on this. 

STROKE IS A MAJOR 999 EMERGENCY 

Stroke Services are being consulted on again in this consultation, as it is a major Emergency service which we are still told to ring 999 for.   The Bengoa Report inappropriately recommended the Centralisation of Stroke services from Daisy Hill, Newry City to Craigavon.  The result of which was shown in the Department of Health NI Consultation on Reshaping Stroke Services in  2019 when Daisy Hill’s Stroke Unit was unfairly LEFT OUT of all the Options for Location of Acute and Hyper-acute Stroke units.   Craigavon, because of the Bengoa Recommendation as a local Case Study was in ALL of the Options for both Hyper-acute and Acute stroke Units, while Newry’s Daisy Hill was in NONE.

Act FAST Stroke - HyperAcute Stroke Unit for Newry 2019

No reply was ever given to any of the 19,000 people in NI who responded to the ‘Reshaping Stroke Services’ Consultation and many objected or gave alternatives to the proposals. This needs to be cleared up NOW as this consultation is in provision of Emergency/Urgent Care for the future.

If you want to make sure you can still access Emergency services at Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in Newry, in the future – This is how we tell them -We are ENTITLED TO IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO 24/7 CONSULTANT-LED EMERGENCY SURGICAL AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IN DAISY HILL ACUTE HOSPITAL, NEWRY CITY.   You can reply to the Consultation questionnaire online and in writing until 01 July 2022.  (Link below)

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

More information on this Dept. Of Health NI Consultation will follow shortly on Daisy Hill for Life Facebook page and on this blog Daisy Hill Hospital for life

Daisy Hill Acute Hospital Emergency Department serves the entire area of Newry and Mourne and South Armagh the largest popultation in the Southern Trust

LINKS
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-review-urgent-and-emergency-care-services-northern-ireland Consultation Documents links

REFERENCE
*Review of Urgent and Emergency Care Services in Northern Ireland – Consultation Report & Strategic Priorities Department of Health Northern Ireland, 2022.

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.

Email Address:

Subscribe
© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2022

© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2022. 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.

12.01.20
by

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 :

  1. 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.

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.

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

A Clear vision for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital - Newry _Daisy Hill for Life
Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City
What progress have the Southern Trust recruitment team made to date recruiting for Daisy Hill Emergency department?

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.

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2022

Daisy Hill Acute Hospital Emergency Department serves the entire area of Newry and Mourne and South Armagh the largest popultation in the Southern Trust

11.30.20
by

WILL DAISY HILL BE LEFT OUT AGAIN IF HSC TRUSTS HAVE MORE POWER?

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.

MAKE SURE DAISY HILL ISN’T MISSING FROM THE NI REGIONAL NETWORK AS NORTHERN IRELAND REBUILDS DURING/ AFTER COVID-19– AND HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE, by replying to the ‘Temporary Amendments to the HSC Framework Document’ Consultation, by this Friday 4th December 2020, 5pm. The Consultation Documents and info on how to reply can be read in full at: www.health-ni.gov.uk/consultations/HSCframework

You can tell the Department of Health how you feel. It’s your Health service.

You can also use the Online Consultation form. Which ever you prefer. By the deadline of this Friday 4th December 2020, 5pm. 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. There has been a hospital in Newry for 175 years – NO ONE IS ENTITLED TO TAKE IT AWAY.

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.

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

All Consultation Documents and info on how to reply 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.

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. DAISY HILL NEEDS YOU!

Detailed info on the importance of this Consultation is described on Daisy Hill for life facebook at : https://www.facebook.com/daisyhillforlife/photos/pb.1575478679404441.-2207520000../2832050437080586/?type=3&theater

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

A Clear vision for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital - Newry _Daisy Hill for Life
Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City
What progress have the Southern Trust recruitment team made to date recruiting for Daisy Hill Emergency department?

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.

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2022

Daisy Hill Acute Hospital Emergency Department serves the entire area of Newry and Mourne and South Armagh the largest popultation in the Southern Trust
09.03.20
by

TIME TO OPEN DAISY HILL HOSPITAL ED NOW!

The Southern Trust must fast track their plans to open Daisy Hill Hospital ED at once, now that Craigavon Hospital has unfortunately fallen victim to COVID-19 clusters, which were reported on BBC NI News 01.09.2020.

Time is now opportune for the Southern Trust and Southern Local Commissioning Group to prove the truth of the rhetoric to the Southern Trust population how much an essential part of the hospital network, Daisy Hill in Newry is, by reopening the Emergency Department (ED) at once.

Reinstate Daisy Hill Newry into NI regional Network -infographic 5 localities in Southern Trust. Newry&Mourne locality is the largest land area with the highest population in the Southern Trust and is still waiting for its ED to be restored.


“Daisy Hill Hospital is based in the city of Newry and is an essential part of the hospital network provided by the Southern Trust and has been ranked as a CHKS Top 40 Hospital.” (Southern Trust 2017).

A Clear vision for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital - Newry _Daisy Hill for Life
Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City

END OF SEPTEMBER NOT SOON ENOUGH TO OPEN ED

The Southern Trust stated on 24.08.2020 that work is progressing to reopen Daisy Hill ED on a 24/7 basis by the end of September.
The Southern Trust Chief Executive has been asked repeatedly to open the ED and the end of September is not soon enough. It is vital to save lives that this date is brought forward to show how effectively they can manage their hospital network.

Daisy Hill 24/7 Type 1 ED was closed on 28th March 2020 – with little warning – so after 6 months to prepare – it is well past time it is reopened, especially given the current circumstance of several covid-19 clusters in Craigavon Hospital.

Mr Shane Devlin praised “The dedication and flexibility of staff during this time has been remarkable” (Southern Trust statement 24.08.2020). This is true of all Southern Trust staff, and especially of Daisy Hill staff who showed immense flexibility by also changing their workplace to Craigavon – but now given the changing circumstances and given the sheer population of Newry & Mourne and beyond – it makes sense that the Southern Trust uses the resources, facilities and staff available in the most sensible way now.

Reinstate Daisy Hill Newry into NI regional Network -infographic 5 localities in Southern Trust. Newry&Mourne locality is the largest land area with the highest population in the Southern Trust and is still waiting for its ED to be restored.

The Diagram and map shows the size of the Southern Trust and the 2 acute hospitals which operate in this Network. It should be noted that Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry is in Newry & Mourne with the largest population (106,499) and largest land mass (898.3 square Km) of all the 5 localities in the Southern Trust area.

Craigavon covers only 281.5 sq Km with less of a population of (102,566) in 2019. (All stats from NISRA) .The map shows the 5 localities / (former) local government districts/LGDs that still remain in the operational area of the Southern Trust, according to its founding legislation.

ED IS A REGIONAL SERVICE

The 106,499 population of Newry & Mourne are being denied time critical access to a Type 1 Emergency Department in a functioning acute hospital, since 28th March 2020 in Newry City.

As they have paid for Regional and Local Urgent and Emergency and acute services through their Regional Rates and Taxes, the population of Newry & Mourne (as well as all of the rest of the population across NI) are entitled to avail of the 24/7 Regional ED Services being provided by the Royal Group of Hospitals including the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, who have shorter waiting times.

The Southern Trust have a duty of care (under their founding legislation) to provide hospital services in Daisy Hill, Newry – not repeatedly take them away to Craigavon.

Daisy Hill’s Emergency Department has been a vital part of the Northern Ireland Network of Type 1 Emergency Departments for the past 17 years.

The Southern Trust have to end the uncertainty and anxiety caused to the population of Newry & Mourne by the removal of vital ED Services and return Daisy Hills ED and Specialist Staff back to Newry as a matter of urgency.

Sources:
Population Stats NISRA 2019
Land Mass Figures – NISRA
Southern Trust Statement 24th August 2020
Craigavon Area Hospital: Third Covid-19 outbreak confirmed, Louise Cullen BBC News NI, 01.09.2020
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-53989892

PATIENTS ON DOCTORS REGISTERS (NISRA 2018)
Derry: 122,280 under 5’s: 8,943
Newry & Mourne: 116,378: under 5’s: 9,481
Craigavon: 105,295 under 5’s: 8,504
Dungannon: 66,848 under 5’s: 5,746
Armagh: 67,930 under 5’s: 5,487
Banbridge: 51,494 under 5’s: 3,927

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.

Follow Blog via Email

Enter your email address below to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2021. 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!

08.02.20
by

Put Daisy Hill acute Hospital, Newry & Mourne and its Type 1 ED for children and adults back on the map!

Childrens services must be kept at Daisy Hill Acute hospital, New
MRI scanner for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital Newry in 2018
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.

Newry, the main Gateway City to NI now, and after we leave the EU, is being denied its rightful place in the Rebuilding of Health and Social Care Services, by the people who are paid to include them.

The graphics which follow show THERE IS NO OTHER Type 1 ED Department in NI that can be accessed within one hour by a third of the population of Newry & Mourne/South Armagh – 38,000 people. 

That is why Newry City’s Acute Hospital, Daisy Hill’s ED department was designated in 2003 with 8 other EDs across NI  to form a Regional network of  9 Type1 EDs , vital to ensure equality of access within one hour 24/7  to Consultant-led urgent and emergency Care to everyone in NI , no matter where they live – urban and rural.

The Southern Trust needs to take its responsibilities to the Newry & Mourne/South Armagh population seriously and be accountable for their actions.   The function of the Southern Trust is to provide hospital accommodation and services in Newry City in Newry & Mourne – the largest administrative area in the Southern Trust.

Their function DOES NOT include the removal of Daisy Hill’s Emergency Department (ED)  from  the long  established Designated Regional network of  the nine  24/7 Type 1 ED Departments of Daisy Hill, Royal Group , Antrim, Ulster, Causeway,  Mater, Altnagelvin, Craigavon,  and  S.W. Acute Hospitals,  which provided a seamless web of ED care to all of the people of NI over the past 17 years.

The Southern Trust shut down Daisy Hill’s Type 1 ED, at a days notice, without consultation, or any adherence to Equality, Rural Needs, Human Rights, Disability legislation. This Type 1 ED in Daisy Hill Hospital is the only one serving the population of the Southern part of NI one hour drive-time ED Network.

GRAPHICS/MAPS

The accompanying Graphics ‘Drive Times to Nearest Type 1 ED’ show the effect the removal of Daisy Hill ED from the existing network of Nine Type1 EDs across NI has on the Population of Newry & Mourne.

The Department of Health/Public Health Agency and Southern Trust are aware of the importance of this Drive Time information as it was previously analysed and published in the Department’s Pathfinder Project Report and Appendices in 2017. The map in the graphic is a scaled drawn reproduction of the report’s map*(See end for source).

Put Daisy Hill acute hospital Newry & its Type 1 ED for children and adults back on the map! Newry, the main Gateway City to NI now, and after we leave the EU, is being denied its rightful place in the Rebuilding of Health and Social Care Services, by the people who are paid to include them.

GRAPHIC 1: Drive Time shows approx Drive time to a Type 1 ED across the Southern Trust and wider area when Daisy Hill ED is excluded. It shows that people living in Armagh, Craigavon, Lisburn, and all across the greater Belfast Area are all within a 30 minute car drive time of a Type1 ED. This is as well as being only 30 min Drive time to all other Type 1 EDs in acute hospitals in Belfast). It also shows that Newry & Mourne is most badly affected by removal of Daisy Type 1 Hill ED.

GRAPHIC 2: Focus on Newry & Mourne – Drive Time  – focuses in detail at the map showing the area of Newry and Mourne. The Rural areas of the Mournes and South Armagh are most affected without Daisy Hill ED.

Nearly 38,000 people in Newry & Mourne denied right to access a Type 1 ED within 1 hour

Nearly 38,000 people in Newry & Mourne denied right to access a Type 1 ED within 1 hour

Graphic 2 shows the area of Newry & Mourne affected with added reference to Electoral Ward populations. Without DHH ED the population of the following electoral wards have to travel 75 to 90 minutes+ to get to a 24/7 TYPE 1 ED in an emergency situation.

Focus on Newry and Mourne -Drivetime to nearest Type 1 ED when Daisy Hill ED is excluded

OVER 75 MINUTES DRIVETIME TO GET TO A 24/7 TYPE 1 ED (coloured dark orange on maps): see key

1 : Annalong: 2. Binnion  3 :  Kilkeel Central 4 :  Kilkeel South 5 : Lisnacree 6 : Rostrevor 

60 TO 75 MINUTES+   DRIVE TIME TO GET TO A 24/7 TYPE 1 ED.  (coloured dark yellow on maps): see key:

7:  Spelga  8 : Kilbroney 9 : Seaview  10 : Clonallan 11:  Crossmaglen 12 : Creggan  13 :Silverbridge 14: Forkhill

These times are only estimates. Only those of us who have had to make the journey to the nearest ED know exactly how long the journey takes.

Nearly 38,000 people in Newry & Mourne denied right to access a Type 1 ED within 1 hour
The Rural areas of the Mournes and South Armagh are most affected without Daisy Hill ED.
Graphic 2 shows the area of Newry & Mourne affected with added reference to Electoral Ward populations. Without DHH ED the population of the following electoral wards have to travel 75 to 90 minutes+ to get to a 24/7 TYPE 1 ED in an emergency situation.

The Southern Trust’s has a centralisation policy of provision of all medical and surgical Urgent and Emergency Services.  Because of this Southern Trust policy – approximately 38,000 people in Newry & Mourne (including South Armagh) since 28th March 2020, have been potentially denied their right to access immediate life saving care in a Type 1 ED within one hour Drive time from their homes. This includes 8,403 children and 5,914 aged 65+.  (Population data from latest NISRA estimated 2019 stats).

REBUILDING PLANS:

Southern Trust made an agreement with other Health Trusts and the Department of Health NI that they will:

(1) Ensure Equity of Access for the treatment of patients across Northern Ireland  (2) Minimise transmission of Covid-19; and (3) Protect access to the most urgent services for our population.

By shutting down and refusing to reopen Newry City’s Type 1 ED department the Southern Trust  have not ensured “Equity of Access” for the treatment of patients across NI and have denied approx 38,000 men, women and children in Newry and Mourne access to time critical  immediate Urgent and Emergency Car within an hour. 

They have also destroyed the existing 17 years Regional network of 9 Type1 EDs being provided by all the other Trusts.

JUST LIKE NEWRY AND DAISY HILL WAS LEFT OUT OF THE STROKE CONSULTATION OPTIONS

Like with the Stroke consultation (where all Stroke care  was centralised to Craigavon from Newry), the Southern Trust has again wrongly left Daisy Hill out –  this time out of the Regional Plans for Urgent and Emergency  and other services in their Rebuilding Health and Social Care services plans.

STAND YOUR GROUND

A Clear future for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital - Newry city
HyperAcute Stroke Unit for Daisy Hill -Newry and Mourne/South Armagh Area Hospital Reshaping Stroke Care Consultation 2019

It is on record that there has been a hospital in Newry caring for anyone in need of immediate life saving services for the past 175 years, through famine, wars and the Cholera epidemic.

It took the Southern Trust, to remove its caring specialist staff at a days notice, from Newry to Craigavon, when they were needed most in Newry, during the Covid 19 pandemic, leaving the entire population of Newry & Mourne without a lifeline in Newry city to time critical Urgent and Emergency Care.                                          

All Politicians, Unions, community representatives and individuals.  Please stand your ground to get what is rightfully ours because we have paid for it.  

Time for Investment for Newry +Mourne LGD 2020

The Department of Health get £5 billion to improve the health and social Care of all of the people of NI who need healthcare no matter where they live. Together we will stand our ground to get Newry, the Gateway City to NI and Newry & Mourne/South Armagh firmly back on the map.

Background:

*Map –  (Source: Appendices – Daisy Hill Hospital Pathfinder Project – Development of an Unscheduled Care Model through a Co-Production Approach, 20th December 2017.  Appendix 2 – Population Needs Assessment – Report of the Needs Assessment Figure 6-2: Drivetime Analysis for NI – DHH ED excluded. Pg 87/88.)

TYPE 1 Emergency Departments are defined as those with a consultant-led service with designated accommodation for the reception of emergency care patients, providing both emergency medicine and emergency surgical services on a round the clock basis.

Daisy Hill Acute Hospital with 24/7 Type 1 ED in Newry is in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust area.

The Golden Hour in stroke is well supported by Clinical Evidence

RELEVANT RESEARCH

Extensive research by ‘Developing Better Services’ Report 2003 found that only a total of 9 EDs would ensure the entire population of NI had access WITHIN ONE HOUR to immediate urgent and emergency care no matter where they lived in both urban or rural areas.

Newry & Mourne is the largest locality of the 5 localities in the operational area of the Southern Trust. The five localities in consistent order of population size since the establishment of the Southern Trust in 2007 are: (1) Newry & Mourne (2) Craigavon (3) Armagh (4) Dungannon and (5) Banbridge.

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

GOVERNMENT CONSTITUENCY INFO

Newry & Mourne Locality is in Two Westminster and NI Assembly constituencies: Newry Armagh and South Down.  17 Wards are in the Newry Armagh Constituency and 13 Wards from Newry & Mourne are in South Down Constituency.

NEWRY & ARMAGH CONSTITUENCY: Daisy Hill, Drumalane, St Marys, St Patrick’s, Windsor Hill, Drumgullion, Ballybot, Newtownhamilton, Camlough, Derrymore, Bessbrook, Tullyhappy, Crossmaglen, Creggan, Silverbridge, Forkhill, Fathom.

SOUTH DOWN CONSTITUENCY:  13 electoral wards of Newry & Mourne are in South Down Constituency.

Spelga, Rostrevor, Sea View, Clonallan, Burren & Kilbroney, Mayobridge, Derryleckagh, Annalong, Binnion, Kilkeel Central, Kilkeel South,  Lisnacree,  and Donaghmore:
49,000 of the Newry & Mourne population are in the South Down Constituency.

Southern Trust Rebuild Phase 2 Plan available here: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/shsct-plan-2.pdf

Links to all Trust Rebuild Plans 2020 here:

 https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/rebuilding-hsc-services

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

Daisy Hill Hospital Emergency Department is vital for stroke and life threatening emergencies

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.

Follow Blog via Email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Daisy Hill Acute Hospital Emergency Department serves the entire area of Newry and Mourne and South Armagh the largest popultation in the Southern Trust

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

07.22.20
by

SOUTHERN TRUST WON’T COMMIT TO RE-OPEN DAISY HILL ED IN PHASE 2 REBUILD PLAN

Rebuild2020 Reopen Daisy Hill Hospital Type 1ED Now -(Newry, Northern Ireland)

Southern Trust Rebuild Plans Phase 2 (July to 30 Sept 2020) now published show the Southern Trust have not committed to the permanent re-opening of Children’s and Adults ED Department in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital. Newry. (See Plan page 6, link at end)

Six months with no emergency department through the dark days of the continuing covid-19 pandemic and no commitment to reopen the Consultant Led-24/7 ED – is a public health failure.

The Southern Trust will go down in history as the Health Trust who denied access to Daisy Hill hospital for immediate life saving care to the men, women and children of the largest locality in their care- Newry & Mourne. (106,500 population: NISRA)

Both Phase 2 and Phase 1 Rebuild Plans by Southern Trust show they have not responded to calls by elected representatives and individuals who have campaigned for the return of the Type 1 24/7 ED in Daisy Hill, Newry.

LAW AND STANDARDS THE SOUTHERN TRUST MUST ADHERE TO

1. Establishment Order

The Southern Trust function under their founding legislation is to PROVIDE hospital accommodation and services, not to TAKE AWAY accommodation and Services in Daisy Hill acute hospital, Newry. Their function is not to centralise all services including immediate life saving services like ED from Newry to Craigavon. They have a duty to keep the doors of Daisy Hill acute hospital open to anyone in need of immediate life saving care.

The Southern Trust’s function is to provide health and social care services paid for with public money from Regional Rates and Taxes. They have almost 1,600 admin staff and were given nearly £700 million in 2019/20 from the HSCB for provision of services across ALL of the Southern Trust, not just in some of the 5 geographical areas under their care.

2. Rural Needs Act 2016

Trusts also have obligations under the Rural Needs Act. Every other health trust in NI continued to provide Covid and Non Covid Care in their Rural and Urban Acute Hospitals, except the Southern Trust. The Southern Trust decided to deny access to Daisy Hill Acute Hospital which provided life saving Urgent and Emergency services for children and adults to the largest Rural catchment population in their care. Daisy Hill had ED attendances of 58,277 people in 2018/19.

3. Quality Standards for Health and Social care

Quality Standards for Health and Social care take into account Equality and Human Rights legislation where everyone has to be treated equally and humanely.


To refuse access to immediate life saving care to children and adults alike in Daisy Hill hospital by closing the only Accident and Emergency Department they have access to for immediate life saving services is inhumane treatment and should not be condoned.

The Centralisation of Acute Hospital Services to Craigavon Agenda of the Southern Trust evident in their planning policies is unfair and inhumane – and does not take into account the legislation.

RE-OPEN DAISY HILL TYPE 1 24/7 ED IN NEWRY NOW!

A Clear vision for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital - Newry _Daisy Hill for Life
Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City
Act FAST Stroke - HyperAcute Stroke Unit for Newry 2019
What progress have the Southern Trust recruitment team made to date recruiting for Daisy Hill Emergency department?

Southern Trust Rebuild Phase 2 Plan available here: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/shsct-plan-2.pdf

Links to all Trust Rebuild Plans 2020 here:

 https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/rebuilding-hsc-services

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

Daisy Hill Hospital Emergency Department is vital for stroke and life threatening emergencies

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.

Follow Blog via Email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

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

Daisy Hill Acute Hospital Emergency Department serves the entire area of Newry and Mourne and South Armagh the largest popultation in the Southern Trust
06.18.20
by

Email Campaign: Return Urgent + Emergency Services to Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry NOW!

EMAIL CAMPAIGN FOR RETURN OF URGENT AND EMERGENCY CARE SERVICES TO DAISY HILL ACUTE HOSPITAL, NEWRY NOW!

Two different versions of an Email letter supporting Daisy Hill Hospital are available for those who wish to use them via the following links: V1-Email-re-Daisy-Hill-acute-H or V2-email-re-Daisy-hill-acute-H

These letters ask for the Return and Enhancement of all Acute and Emergency services and valuable staff transferred to Craigavon Hospital to be restored to Newry IMMEDIATELY, without delay. If you agree, please contact your local representatives, including Councillors, MLA’s and MP’s,  Contact Details Follow Below

After downloading (Just Click on the Blue Links, Select Save and then OK to save to your own device.) The contents of these draft Letters  can be used as they are or as a guide to copy and paste from to write your own message/letter to send to MPs, MLAs, Councillors and/other organisations like Health Authorities (e.g. Department of  Health) and other Stakeholders regarding the Southern Trust – June 2020 Rebuild Plan. 

Please add your name and address to the letter if you are attaching it to an Email so the recipient knows it is genuine and also remember to ‘Save As’ with a New Filename or your choice e.g. Daisy Hill Hospital-2020 or whatever you like maybe using your initials to make it unique.

Tips on attaching the Email-Letter Doc to an Email are at the end of this piece, should you need them.

Quick Links to Contact Lists available here:

Contact-list-MLAs-MPs-for-Newry+Armagh_-South-Down-16.06.2020

Contact List for Newry, Mourne and Down Councillors from data.gov.uk here : nmddc-councillors-12nov19

Contact List for Health Authorities here: Contacts-Health-Authorities-DoH-HSCB-SLCG-ST

What is the Southern Trust Rebuild Plan? (June 2020)

More information on why these Plans are concerning for those who use Daisy Hill Acute Hospital is available here  from the Daisy Hill for life post:  Southern Trust Plan to Keep Daisy Hill ED closed and Retain 3EDs for Craigavon

Dept. of Health ‘Rebuilding Health and Social Care’ Framework docs show services provided during COVID by each of the 5 Health Trusts, and more importantly Plans on how the Health Trusts propose to both Restore and scale back services following the easing of COVID 19.

The Plans each Trust have for Rebuilding HSC Services can be found at:

https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/rebuilding-hsc-services

This letter is to support the view that all Acute and Emergency services and valuable staff transferred to Craigavon Hospital should be restored to Newry IMMEDIATELY, without delay.

If you agree please contact all your local representatives, Councillors, MLA’s and MP’s.  They are all in a position as stakeholders to represent our views in relation to the future Rebuilding of Health and Social Care services at a NI and local level and putting forward the case for restoration, and expansion of ED, inpatient bed capacity and Acute and unscheduled health care services in Daisy Hill acute Hospital, Newry.

Please use your phone to speak up for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital

 MORE CONTACT INFO & LINKS

Contact List for MLAs & MPs for Constituencies of Newry & Armagh/ South Down (14.06.2020)

They are all in a position as stakeholders to represent our views regarding the future Rebuilding of Health and Social Care services at a NI and local level and putting forward the case for restoration, and expansion of ED, inpatient bed capacity and Acute and unscheduled health care services in Daisy Hill acute Hospital, Newry.

Contact List to Download:  Contact-list-MLAs-MPs-for-Newry+Armagh_-South-Down-16.06.2020

This contact list is based on information as listed on the NI Assembly Portal page and other sources such as MLA’s Facebook pages or political party websites. Despite attempts to be as accurate as possible, if there is any information which is not up-to-date – apologies. (MLAs are listed in alphabetical order.)

Newry Mourne and Down Council Contacts

https://www.newrymournedown.org/your-councillors

List to download from source : Newry Mourne and Down District Councillors info from data.gov.uk

Contact List already downloaded from data.gov.uk also directly available here:  nmddc-councillors-12nov19

computer-768608_1920smartphone-1894723_1920

Step by Step Instructions how to Use the Draft Email Letter

  1. Download the Document to your device and  ‘Save As’ to give the File a new name of your choice .
  2. Edit the document as you please, either delete or add your own info.
  3. Add your NAME and ADDRESS at the end (or Email Address) so the recipient knows it is a genuine letter.
  4. Click ‘Save’ to Save your new Changes
  5. Compose New Message and Select the Paperclip Icon and select your File to Attach it to your Email message. (You will see the Filename attached to your Email when it has uploaded)
  6. Type the email address of the person you want to send an email to in the To Field.
  7. Write a short message and then click Send!
person-731479_1920

LINKS AND FURTHER INFO

Government Official Links

Northern Ireland Assembly: AIMs Portal: http://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/mlas/search.aspx

UK Parliament Website: https://members.parliament.uk/

Other Useful Links

WriteToThem.com

Newry& Armagh search on WriteToThem: https://www.writetothem.com/who?pc=BT342PF&fyr_extref=https%3A%2F%2Fdemocracy.warwickshire.gov.uk%2FmgFindMember.aspx

South Down Search search on WriteToThem:  https://www.writetothem.com/who?pc=BT358QS&fyr_extref=https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2Fe3BAO1Sagu%3Famp%3D1

https://members.parliament.uk/

doctor-eye clinics for Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry
Official statistics, as presented by NISRA must determine where Specialist acute Hospitals are located in NI.
Daisy Hill Hospital Emergency Department is vital for stroke and life threatening emergencies

DAISY HILL HOSPITAL, NEWRY NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT LIKE NEVER BEFORE

3 Reasons why it is so important to Email your Representatives.

>REASON 1:  THESE HSC REBUILD PLANS WILL DICTATE WHAT ACUTE SPECIALIST SERVICES WILL BE CENTRALISED TO CRAIGAVON FOR NOW AND THE FUTURE.

The Southern Trust Plan for June to September shows that although they promised to return the urgent and Emergency Care Services and staff to Daisy Hill as soon as the immediate threat of Covid- 19 was over – they have refused to do so.  The Southern Trusts function, under the 2006 Establishment Order, is to provide hospital services, in Daisy Hill, Newry for the consistently largest population of the five localities in the admin area of the Southern Trust in Newry & Mourne – (their function is NOT to move them to Craigavon).

These Rebuilding Plans are LONG TERM future plans to decide location of all urgent and emergency care services, diagnostics, cancer, stroke, heart, and will decide which hospitals will shut in the future. This will dramatically affect provision of ED and inpatient hospital services in Newry & Mourne and NI FOR THE FUTURE.

Daisy Hill Hospital Emergency Department is vital for stroke and life threatening emergencies

>REASON 2: NEWRY & MOURNE HAS NO OTHER NEARBY ALTERNATIVE FOR URGENT AND EMERGENCY CARE AND INPATIENT CARE SERVICES:

In 2019 THERE WERE 60,000 ATTENDANCES TO DHH ED.  When all ED services and ED staff were suddenly stripped from Daisy Hill Hospital and centralised to Craigavon Hospital at the height of the Covid Pandemic, the people of Newry & Mourne and surrounding areas unacceptably had no nearby alternative ED to go to for either Covid or non-Covid Emergencies.  Adults and children alike, requiring  any emergency care which needs immediate attention are now having their LIVES PUT IN DANGER because the Southern Trust are refusing to provide treatment in Daisy Hill ED now or in the future.

TAKE YOUR PICK

In direct comparison, Craigavon population has many alternative EDs to go WITHIN HALF HOURS MOTORWAY JOURNEY AWAY .They are as follows: The Royal (NI Regional Hospital), Royal Hospital for Sick Children, The Mater (NI Covid Centre), the Ulster, the City (formerly Covid Nightingale Hospital), Antrim Hospital, and Lisburn Hospital.

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

>REASON 3: POPULATION STATS:
Newry & Mourne has been 4th highest locality population in NI since pre 1972 and is projected to be 3rd highest population in NI by 2023. Since the Southern Trust was established in 2007 Newry & Mourne has always been the largest of the 5 localities in the Southern Trust – with greatest need and THIS CAN BE IGNORED NO LONGER. In 2019 Newry & Mourne has the 3rd highest number of births in NI.  This all can be confirmed by official NISRA stats.

>WHO CAN I EMAIL?

1. Representatives (Councillors, MLA’s and MPs).

2. Public Authorities (Public servants – Dept of Health, Health Trusts)

3. Others in your area who you may think of yourself e.g. Charities, community groups, business leaders etc

>Join Us please and WRITE FOR YOUR RIGHTS!

Daisy Hill Acute Hospital Emergency Department serves the entire area of Newry and Mourne and South Armagh the largest popultation in the Southern Trust

Updates available on : https://www.facebook.com/daisyhillforlife/ Please like or follow the page to support. Thank you

© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2021.