Tag Archives: Belleek

04.14.19
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QUESTION OF TRUST – comparing Southern and Western Trust’s Stroke Proposals for 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.

One of the Functions of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust under the 2006 Establishment Order is to PROVIDE SERVICES – (not take away existing services) to the population of the five former Local Government Districts (LGD)s  or Localities of            (1) Newry & Mourne LGD  (105,161); (2)Craigavon LGD (100,310); (3)Armagh LGD (62,427); (4) Dungannon LGD (62,149) and (5) Banbridge LGD (50,265).

The Southern Trust have a duty of care to plan provision of services in equal measure to all 380,312* people under their care.

Proof that the future configuration of Hyperacute and Acute stroke Units in the Northern Ireland Stroke Consultation Document 2019 was decided not only by the Department of Health, but also by all of the Health Trusts in NI,  can be seen from the Western Trust website which states:-

‘Speaking ahead of the meeting of the Western Trust Board this week, Dr Anne Kilgallen, Western Trust Chief Executive said:

“The Department of Health is leading on the Stroke Consultation and all Health and  Social Care Trusts have been actively involved in the discussions in preparation. We in the Western Trust are very pleased that both the South West Acute and Altnagelvin Hospitals are part of the options being considered.”‘

If only it could be said that the Southern Trust were also actively involved in discussions and preparations to make sure that the existing Specialist combined Acute Stroke /Rehabilitation Unit in Daisy Hill, Newry City (in the largest locality in the Southern Trust) was being put forward as a vital Hyperacute Stroke Unit, co-located with an Acute Stroke in the future network of specialist Stroke Units in NI.

Compare how inclusively the Western Health and Social Care Trust have reassured their staff and population of 301,448*, that they are doing their best to retain and enhance their TWO ACUTE STROKE UNITS in Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry and the South West hospital in Enniskillen, with the Southern Trust’s approach.

The Southern Trust (SHSCT), has consistently pushed forward at every opportunity, removal of vital life saving stroke services from Daisy Hill, out of reach to Craigavon in their Centralisation Programme of all specialist services to Craigavon.   (Even the 2016 Bengoa Report’s only Local Case Study promoted SHSCTs proposal to centralise all Stroke services to Craigavon and remove them forever from Daisy Hill, Newry City).

Because of this, Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City specialist combined Acute/Rehabilitation Stroke Unit, (in the largest of the five Local Government Districts in the Southern Trust), does not even warrant a mention on the list of options given in the Northern Ireland Stroke Consultation 2019.

A HASU and ASU is proposed for Craigavon, not on one, but on ALL SIX OPTIONS. It is clear from this, that nobody seems to have spoken out for provision of Stroke services in NEWRY CITY.

It also shows that the SHSCT are proposing to continue with their plans to withdraw existing life saving specialist Acute Stroke and Stroke Rehabilitation Services from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, without making any provision of a NEARBY alternative Specialist Stroke Unit. They are required to do this under equality of access to provide EMERGENCY timely life saving specialist services e.g. CT scanning, thrombolysis, etc and acute Stroke Rehabilitation.

CONCLUSION

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).

This would ensure that everyone in the Southern Trust has, as they have at present, immediate access to CT scanning and life saving thrombolysis, followed by direct access into a stroke unit – the stroke pathway recommended by The Royal College of Physicians for better outcomes.

>The Southern Trust need at this stage to speak up for ALL the population they are duty bound to provide specialist stroke services for in the future stroke network in Northern Ireland, in the same inclusive manner as the Western Trust.

*NISRA 2017

Southern Trust population 380,312 : Western Trust population 301,448  : NISRA 2017

Sources: http://www.westerntrust.hscni.net/about/3857.htm

04.04.19
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NI Stroke Consultation: Presenting an extra Option to include the EXCLUDED populations

Q6 SUGGESTED ANSWER : 5 Hyperacute Stroke Units (HASUs) and 5 Acute Stroke Units (ASUs) at 5 acute hospitals in NI at: (1)Royal Victoria, Belfast; (2) Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry, (3)South West, Enniskillen (4)Altnagelvin, Derry and (5)Causeway Hospital, Coleraine. This option is based on existing acute stroke units that already give specialist CT scanning and Thrombolysis.This option offers timely equality of access to these necessary specialist stroke services more evenly distributed across NI to include the rural population - ignored in the consultation. NI Stroke Consultation 2019: Presenting an additional Option to include all the excluded populations of Northern Ireland.

The NI Stroke Consultation: Reshaping Stroke Care – Saving Lives, Reducing Disability 2019 asks for the public’s agreement to choose an option between 6 possible options of future configuration of both hyperacute and acute stroke units in Northern Ireland (NI) even though many local Government Districts are excluded.

In these proposals, two existing stroke units in acute hospitals at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry City and Causeway Hospital in Coleraine have been completely EXCLUDED from ALL possible Options to choose in the Consultation Questionnaire, and isolated from the process completely.

ALTNAGELVIN, CRAIGAVON AND ROYAL VICTORIA HOSPITALS SELECTED IN ALL OPTIONS

Altnagelvin, Craigavon and Royal Victoria Hospitals are proposed in every one of the 6 Options, which means the future of these three stroke units is perceived as definitely secure whatever happens.

These three stroke units may be recruiting on the strength of this, while other units and their staff are left out in the cold, despite actively participating in the Pre-Stroke Consultation in 2017, where they were assured that no decisions had been made.

Redress the unbalanced NI Stroke Consultation 2019 - additional Options needed to include the Excluded populations.

RESEARCH BIAS

The approach in the Questionnaire is considered bad practice in Research as the occurrence of the same 3 hospitals in all 6 Options shows bias and favouritism and employment unions may be alerted that this is a failure to follow due process in Employment Law.

This bias renders the whole Consultation invalid as the topic deals with the Change and Withdrawal of existing public services in hospitals, which are paid for using Public Money.

TIMING OF CONSULTATION

The timing of this Consultation is also called into question as it was timed at the same time as the recess for forthcoming Council Elections. This leaves populations without access to advice from full sitting Councils and Council reps on local Health Boards. Therefore the Consultation must be extended beyond the statutory 3 months consultation period to allow Newry, Mourne and Down Council Representatives and other Councils in other areas to make a response on behalf of their electorate.

NEWRY, MOURNE & DOWN COUNCIL – NEEDS A HYPER ACUTE STROKE UNIT & AN ACUTE STROKE UNIT IN DAISY HILL HOSPITAL, NEWRY

>Newry Mourne and Down Council – has the 3rd highest council population in NI of  179,000 people (of which 105,300 residents live in rural areas ). If any of the Six pre-selected Options in the Consultation are chosen – this entire local government district will be left with NO Hyperacute or acute stroke /Rehabilitation Units and no timely access to Thrombolysis.

This deliberate plan to remove without a trace the existing designated Daisy Hill Acute Hospital combined Specialist Acute + Rehabilitation Stroke Unit is deplorable, and a public health injustice which cannot be condoned. (Stroke services are assured in Derry City and Strabane Council with a population of 150,500 with only 49,900 people living in a rural area.)

OPPORTUNITY & HOPE

Despite all these issues – there is STILL an opportunity for our excluded populations to put the best case forward for their existing Stroke Units. The only positive aspect of the Reshaping Stroke Consultation 2019 is that we have been given the opportunity to answer Q.6 with additional options

PRESENTING A NEW OPTION TO INCLUDE ALL N.I.

The answer as shown in the graphic is suggested for public consideration. In the Consultation Questionnaire Q. 6 asks: “Are there additional options that we have not considered?”

Q6 SUGGESTED ANSWER : 5 Hyperacute Stroke Units (HASUs) and 5 Acute Stroke Units (ASUs) at 5 acute hospitals in NI at: (1)Royal Victoria, Belfast; (2) Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry; (3) South West, Enniskillen; (4) Altnagelvin, Derry and (5) Causeway Hospital, Coleraine.

This option is based on existing acute stroke units that already give specialist CT scanning and Thrombolysis. This option offers timely equality of access to these necessary specialist stroke services more evenly distributed across NI and to include the rural population – ignored in the consultation.

In this option Antrim, Craigavon (a satellite town of Belfast) and Ulster Hospital, Dundonald – are all within 30 minutes motorway journey of Belfast and can advantageously avail of both Thrombolysis + Thrombectomy in the Royal Victoria Regional Hospital (already confirmed as having a HASU and an ASU).

Daisy Hill Acute Hospital (DHH) Newry City is in a strategic location where patients from Banbridge (approx 15mins travel from Newry City) and South Armagh and Down can avail of timely access to specialist stroke services (scanning and Thrombolysis ) in Daisy Hill (DHH) Hyperacute Stroke Unit + Rehabilitation in DHH Acute Stroke unit.

CONCLUSION YOUR LAST CHANCE to air your views in support of Daisy Hill specialist stroke unit.

The most meaningful way we can put the best case forward for the existing Daisy Hill combined Specialist Acute Stroke/ Rehabilitation unit and its dedicated staff in the Reshaping Stroke Consultation is by taking our time to respond to the questionnaire (including answering Q6).

Don’t give any rushed answers – the closing date is not until June 2019, and you can only submit one response each.

It should also be noted that the Complete Online Form’ button, and online form is set up to force people to choose one of those six options – which all mean the end for the stroke units in Daisy Hill Hospital and in Causeway Hospital. 

WE CAN and have the right to CHALLENGE these decisions and the options given and put the best case forward for RETENTION and ENHANCEMENT of Daisy Hill existing acute stroke rehab unit and its specialist services to ensure its rightful place in the network of stroke services in NI for the LONG TERM FUTURE.

More posts relating to the Stroke Consultation coming here soon and on: https://en-gb.facebook.com/daisyhillforlife/

The united community of Newry and Mourne and South Armagh will work together to ENHANCE stroke services in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital

© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2021. We welcome sharing of excerpts & 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!

 

12.16.18
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2 NEW CT SCANNERS required NOW for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital ED

2 CT Scanners for Daisy Hill Hospital Newry city now

The Southern Trust needs to act at once to provide 2 CT Scanners as part of the VITAL diagnostic imaging services in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry city to meet their statutory duty of care and honour the promises they made in official statements (during the 2014 Stroke Consultation).

It is imperative that a NEW permanent replacement CT scanner and a second NEW CT scanner get Commissioner Approval and are installed AT ONCE in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital to give access to life saving DIAGNOSTIC treatment to save the lives of stroke and heart patients and for other medical emergencies.

IMAGING REVIEW

The Imaging Review Consultation stated the need FOR TWO CT scanners in 24/7 Emergency Departments to ensure resilience when one scanner breaks down so that another one is readily available – when patients URGENTLY need a CT scan.

Every second counts in getting a CT scan to save patients lives and give better outcomes for stroke and heart and other critical medical conditions.

CT SCANNING NEEDED TO CONFIRM TYPE OF STROKE – whether bleed or clot.

computer-tomography-image - CT scanner for Daisy Hill Hospital 2018

 

Major research into the Stroke pathway confirms the importance of diagnostic CT scanning to eliminate brain bleed for suitability for thrombolysis.

The Southern Trust needs to use the same urgent priority planning to address the needs for provision of imaging services for the Newry & Mourne population (the largest locality population in the Southern Trust), as well as addressing the needs of the Craigavon population, which has only the second largest Locality population in the Southern Trust.

In Craigavon, as the Trust Delivery Plan shows, advanced plans are already in place, with Commissioner Approval, for 2 NEW CT scanners, a new twin CT screening room and 1 more NEW MRI scanner. (Two NEW MRI scanners were already installed in Craigavon Hospital in 2014 and 2015).

REFRESH SOUTHERN TRUST IMAGING PLANS

The promises made in a series of official statements, three of which are detailed below, cannot be honoured by the Southern Trust without the provision of continuous CT scanning facilities in Daisy Hill ED, Newry City.

These promises can only be kept if the Southern Trust plan well in advance for replacement CT scanners so that the 7 year Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) recommended replacement timescale for functional life of a CT scanner is adhered to in Daisy Hill, in the same urgent manner as imaging services are planned for in Craigavon Hospital.

The Southern Trust’s IMAGING Plans must be refreshed to change the designated “non priority” for replacement of Daisy Hill’s existing CT scanner to “CAPITAL PRIORITY” and for a second new CT Scanner also as a “Capital Priority.”

The following promises were made by Southern Trust Personnel in Documents as listed below:

>STATEMENT 1:

‘STROKE CARE PROMISE’ (Newry Reporter: 27/08/2014)

“Emergency Treatment (for Stroke) will always be around the clock. If a clot busting drug is required, ….we aim to deliver a door to needle time of 60 minutes INCLUDING A CT SCAN PROVIDED AT BOTH HOSPITALS.”

(Southern Trust Director of Acute Services, Newry Reporter: 27 Aug 2014, Front page p 1, p 4)

>STATEMENT 2:

“Patients who have suffered a stroke will always get IMMEDIATE DIAGNOSIS and emergency treatment, including thrombolysis AT BOTH of our Emergency Departments in Daisy Hill Hospital and Craigavon Area Hospital. This will ensure we can continue to achieve a ‘door to needle’ time of 60 minutes for thrombolysis.”

(Southern Trust Stroke Consultation Document, p.14, June 2014)

>STATEMENT 3:

“People with symptoms of stroke are always taken first to the Emergency Department in either Daisy Hill Hospital or Craigavon Area Hospital for ASSESSMENT and treatment and our proposals would NOT change this”.

(Chief Executive of the Southern Health Trust, Launch of the Stroke Consultation, Southern Trust Press release 19/06/2014.)

CALL FOR ACTION FROM SOUTHERN TRUST NOW

A NEW permanent replacement CT scanner and a second NEW CT scanner must now be a CAPITAL PRIORITY, get Commissioner Approval, and be installed immediately in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital to give access to life saving DIAGNOSTIC treatment to save the lives of stroke and heart patients and for other medical emergencies.

Investment in CT and MRI scanners essential for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City.

You can visit – follow and  like our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/daisyhillforlife/ – Thank you.

© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2017. We welcome sharing of excerpts & 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!

 

10.13.18
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CAPITAL PRIORITIES FOR HOSPITAL CT and MRI SCANNERS IN DAISY HILL AND CRAIGAVON HOSPITALS OUTLINED

Hospital scanner

The urgent need for MRI and CT scanning equipment in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry for now and the future, was pointed out by many people in responses to the Draft Consultation called ‘Strategic Framework for Imaging Services in Health and Social Care’, (which closed in January 2018.)

The Department of Health NI has published the Final Framework and Summary of Responses documents on their website. (Links are available below)

WAITING LISTS GROW IN THE SOUTHERN TRUST

 

As demand for diagnostic MRI and CT scans in the Southern Trust area increases, this need for more imaging equipment becomes more urgent.

Of the 5 Health Trusts in Northern Ireland – the Southern Trust had the HIGHEST number of people (26,383) on the URGENT Waiting list in need of CT diagnostic scanning, out of 34,137 people waiting for CT scans in the Southern Trust. (for the period 31st July 2017 – 30th June 2018).

The Southern Trust also had the 2nd highest number of people in NI on the URGENT waiting list for diagnostic MRI scans during the same period (9,419 people).

Providing extra CT and MRI scanners in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry – in the largest locality in the Southern Trust would improve these waiting lists.

However there is NO CAPITAL INVESTMENT PROPOSED as a PRIORITY for the replacement of the eight year old CT Scanner, or new MRI and CT scanners in DAISY HILL ACUTE HOSPITAL (for 2014 to 2022).

Source: Imaging Review Equipment Management Document, see pg 31/32 table extract shown below *

 

Extracts from this document show plans for proposed CT/MRI Scanning Equipment Investment (2014 – 2022) and the level of priority the Trust assigns it.

New/Replacement equipment is NOT a TRUST PRIORITY for DAISY HILL Acute Hospital, Newry City.

Trust Priority         EQUIPMENT                 £ Est. Cost

NOT A PRIORITY;  MRI SCANNER Daisy Hill  £500k  for 2016/17

NOT A PRIORITY;  CT SCANNER Daisy Hill    £500k  for 2016/17

In the same period, the Trust assigns Priority 1, 2, 3 (2014 – 2022) for CT/MRI equipment for CRAIGAVON Hospital at a TOTAL COST of nearly £4.5 MILLION

Trust Priority         EQUIPMENT                £ Est. Cost

PRIORITY 1;          2ND NEW CT Scanner    £2 million       for 2015 /16
PRIORITY 2;          2ND MRI Scanner          £1.5 million    for 2014/15
PRIORITY 3;          UPGRADE CT Scanner    £495K            for  2015/16
PRIORITY 3;          UPGRADE CT Scanner    £500K            for 2021/22

Trust priority 1, 2, 3 (2014 – 2022) for CRAIGAVON > TOTAL COST nearly £4.5 MILLION

(Source: Imaging Review Equipment Management Document, see pg 31/32 table)

Investment in CT and MRI scanners essential for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City, in the largest locality in the southern Trust area.

£62.8 MILLION PROPOSED INVESTMENT FUNDING 2014/15 – 2022 FOR IMAGING EQUIPMENT IN NI

Under the ‘Proposed Major Equipment Investment Programme’ (see Annex D Equipment Management Document) – all five Health Trusts in NI have asked for a total of £62.8 million from the Department of Health for New and Replacement of major imaging equipment (from 2014/15 to 2022) under Royal College of Radiologists guidelines.

The Trust have asked for nearly £4.5 million of this proposed Investment as a Trust Priority for CT and MRI scanning equipment for Craigavon only between 2014 to 2022.

One proposed new CT scanner in Craigavon Hospital for 2015/16 (Trust Priority 1) was itemised to cost £2million, this is enough money to pay for one Necessary MRI scanner as well as 1 Vital CT scanner in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City.

Daisy Hill Hospital is not even down as a Trust Priority to get a REPLACEMENT CT scanner (to replace the CT scanner which was installed in 2010) even though the Royal College of Radiologist guidelines should be adhered to.

DEMOGRAPHICS (population)

Using the latest population estimates (June 2017), Newry & Mourne Locality has the largest Local population (105,161) of the five former Local Government Districts of Newry & Mourne, Banbridge, Dungannon, Armagh and Craigavon in the operational area of the Southern Trust.

Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry city should currently have at least TWO NEW diagnostic MRI and 2 NEW CT scanners, plus a NEW MOBILE SCANNER and NEW SCREENING ROOMS, as in Craigavon Local Government District (which always had a smaller Local Government District or Locality population.)

Do you agree? If so, please continue to speak up for Daisy Hill. Continued support from the Community, Politicians, Individuals, Trade Unions and businesses on this issue is URGENTLY NEEDED NOW.

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

BACKGROUND INFO & LINKS

Links to the Strategic Framework for Imaging Services in Health and Social Care Consultation documents referred to in this article are below:

*Link to Imaging Review Equipment Management doc –  https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/consultations/health/Imaging%20Review%20%20Equipment%20Management%20pdf.pdf  (See pages 31 -32 for Southern Trust planned Investment including Daisy Hill Hospital)

https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/IR-responses.pdf

https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/strategic-framework-imaging-services-health-and-social-care

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

Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City

06.10.18
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DAISY HILL HOSPITAL STAFF PRAISED BY FAMILY + HEARTBEAT NI FOR HELPING SAVE NEW BORN BABY’S LIFE

Daisy Hill Hospital medics have been praised for their pioneering use of a new-born baby heartbeat screening test which alerted them that a baby from Burren had a serious heart defect, which required urgent surgery in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Dublin.

Daisy Hill is currently the only hospital in Northern Ireland to use the new born heart screening test known as Pulse Oximetry. The children’s heart charity, Heartbeat NI funded the life-saving screening equipment and Consultant paediatrician Dr Bassam Aljarad introduced the programme at Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in 2015.

Irwyn McKibbin, Chairman of Heartbeat NI stated in an article in The Examiner (28/05/2018) “I would like to congratulate the staff at Daisy Hill for not only undertaking what was initially a pilot study, but for persisting with it once the trial period expired. I am delighted for Katie and Alan that Dáire is doing so well and that Heartbeat NI played a small part in this good news story.”

Baby Dáire from Burren with her parents, Katie Dinsmore and Alan Lawson, returned to Daisy Hill Hospital to meet with Staff Midwife Rachel Tinnelly and Dr Sally Anne Devine.

Katie, along with charity Heartbeat NI has called for the test to be mandatory at all hospitals, as Katie is quoted in the Newry Democrat (29/05/2018): “It saved Dáire so it should definitely be done everywhere. Even if it saves one life”

Congratulations to all the staff at Daisy Hill Acute Hospital for this fantastic work, and wishing Baby Dáire and her parents Katie and Alan all the best for the future.
Daisy Hill for Life!

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new-born-baby

New-born baby photo from Pixabay

01.21.18
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PROPOSE FUTURE INVESTMENT FOR VITAL SCANNING EQUIPMENT FOR DAISY HILL HOSPITAL TODAY

MRI scanner for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital Newry in 2018Can you please help ensure that Daisy Hill Acute Hospital is included in the Department of Health’s Investment Plan for vital diagnostic equipment like MRI and CT scanners by sending in an EMAIL to the latest consultation, due in Mon 22 Jan by 5pm?

To save time, you can just send an email, with this suggested answer.

Please email your response to: Email: ImagingReviewConsultation@health-ni.gov.uk along with your NAME and ADDRESS:

Suggested answer below to copy and paste, (of course – you can alter as you wish, or write your own.) Please add your name and address, underneath Yours Sincerely at the end of your letter. Thank you!

SUGGESTED ANSWER

‘Dear Imaging Review Consultation Secondary Care Directorate

Thank you for the opportunity to give my views on a Strategic Framework for Imaging Services in Health and Social Care.

Investment in all vital Imaging Services and Equipment must be provided for in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City.

I propose that Capital Funding for CT scanners, MRI scanners, non obstetric scanners and other vital imaging equipment must be allocated to Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry to ensure that the objectives of ‘increasing capacity to meet future demand and to further improve quality and safety’ are met.

Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City is in the largest locality in the Southern Trust in Newry & Mourne, and also provides for the wider catchment population which also includes South Armagh and Banbridge. The allocation of funding for imaging equipment investment and replacement planned for the Southern Trust area must include Daisy Hill Acute Hospital.

As the consultation document states – “Timely and accurate imaging plays a vital role in ensuring patients are appropriately diagnosed, treated and monitored.” It is just as vital for Newry City’s Daisy Hill Acute Hospital to give timely access to imaging services for its catchment population –and needs commitment for capital investment now and in the future to achieve this.

The population of Newry & Mourne (29% of which are children) are entitled to safe timely access to medical imaging (scanning) services in Daisy Hill, one of the 10 acute hospitals in NI. This includes access to services such as MRI, CT, non-obstetric ultrasound and X-ray. It also includes, Cardiac Imaging, Paediatric imaging, Ultrasound scanning, and Obstetric scanning in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital.

Newry & Mourne locality – projected to be the 3rd highest population in NI by 2023 (after only Belfast and Lisburn- greater Belfast ) has paid for, needs, and is entitled to equality in provision and forward looking investment and funding for new, up to date major CT and MRI scanning equipment.

Thank you
Yours sincerely

Your Name and address

………………………………………………………

Consultant Doctor examining notes

BACKGROUND INFO AND LINKS

(1) Newry & Mourne has always had the highest population of the 5 localities in the Southern Trust since pre 2008.
(2) Newry & Mourne has always had the highest number of births in the Southern Trust.
(3) Newry & Mourne has always had the highest number of children (under 18) in the Southern Trust.

Thank you.

Full Consultation info and Documents available at:
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/…/consultation-draft-strategic…

Equipment Management Doc -See pages 31 -32 for Southern Trust planned Investment including Daisy Hill Hospital) (This doc can be downloaded or you can type in required page number 31 in the top left hand corner while still in the browser):
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/…/Imaging%20Review%20%20Equipm…

The Deadline for responses is Monday 22nd January at 5pm.

 

 

computer-tomography-image - CT scanner for Daisy Hill Hospital 2018

09.24.17
by

Time for Health Chiefs to recognise the size and need of the Newry & Mourne locality

The Hospital/ healthcare needs of the Newry & Mourne population must finally be recognised by those who Provide and Commission Services and they need to provide the services IN THE AREA WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED.

This should not be news, as it is obvious to most! But it is news – because those in charge of commissioning these services for Newry & Mourne seem blind to these basic facts.

Newry and Mourne has the highest population and greatest need so must have acute hospital services in Newry and Mourne

Newry & Mourne (one locality or LGD) is projected to have the 3rd highest population in NI by 2023 and has always been (since pre 2008) the largest locality in the Southern Trust, with the GREATEST POPULATION and GREATEST NEED.

Those commissioning health services NOW need to recognise the size of our existing (and growing population) and the lack of capital investment in provision of hospital buildings, acute specialist hospital services, provision of hospital beds and specialist medical staff in the Newry & Mourne area, in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, including in the Emergency Department.

Investment for Newry & Mourne must be as intensive as investment for Craigavon which has a smaller population.

New investment in acute specialist hospital services, hospital beds and specialist medical staff is due in the Newry & Mourne area, in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, including in the Emergency Department.

The PATHFINDER NEEDS ASSESSMENT GROUP must also accept this in the needs assessment which they have sent to the Department of Health.

ASSESSMENT OF NEED MUST BE BASED ON ACCURATE POPULATION STATISTICS

Assessment of need must be based on ACCURATE local government NISRA statistics which show Newry & Mourne with the HIGHEST POPULATION in the Southern Trust.

It should NOT be based on numbers of patients being ADMITTED to Daisy Hill Acute Hospital through the Emergency Department.

These figures do not reflect the need here, rather they reflect the lack of beds in the Emergency Department and medical emergency beds.

The Southern Trust have a duty of care to Emergency and Acute patients to provide enough specialist acute services, medical staff and hospital beds in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, as they do in Craigavon hospital.

Here are some facts about our area THAT CAN BE IGNORED NO LONGER. >

These facts and figures show the greatest need for provision of Acute specialist Hospital and Emergency Services and outpatients clinics is in Newry & Mourne and South Armagh. These services must be provided in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City.

NEWRY & MOURNE LOCALITY (LGD) KEY FACTS

(1) Newry & Mourne is projected to have the 3RD HIGHEST POPULATION IN NI by 2023.

(2) Newry & Mourne has ALWAYS had the highest population of the 5 localities in the Southern Trust since pre 2008.

(3) Newry & Mourne has ALWAYS had THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF BIRTHS in the Southern Trust.

(4) Newry & Mourne has ALWAYS had THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF CHILDREN (under 18) in the Southern Trust.

(5) Newry & Mourne in 2016/17 had the highest number of deaths (of under 75s) in the Southern Trust.

THE LIST GOES ON…

DAISY HILL ACUTE HOSPITAL KEY FACTS

There were 259 emergency caesareans in Daisy Hill in 2016/17.

  • In the same year there were 2,420 children admitted through the Emergency Department as inpatients.
  • There were 11,256 inpatients of all ages admitted to Daisy Hill Hospital in 2016/17 through its Medical Emergency Department.
  • Over 52,000 people attended Daisy Hill Emergency Department last year.

CONCLUSION – TIME TO REDRESS THE BALANCE!

These key facts have NOT been accepted by those whose duty it is to commission and provide services, but NOW IS THE TIME TO REDRESS THE BALANCE – it is time for Newry & Mourne to have its correct share of funding.

Any need assessment must accurately represent Newry & Mourne as the largest population in the Southern Trust with greatest need.

The population of Newry Mourne Locality (which includes South Armagh) need acute specialist hospital services, medical staff and hospital beds NOW in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City.

investment in hospital buildings, acute specialist hospital services, hospital beds and specialist medical staff is needed in the Newry & Mourne area, in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, including in the Emergency Department.

Background Info:

ROLE OF HSCB:

The HSCB Health and Social Care Board through the Southern Local Commissioning Group have to ASSESS HEALTH AND HOSPITAL NEEDS of the FIVE localities or Local Government Districts (LGDs) of Newry & Mourne; Craigavon; Dungannon; Banbridge and Armagh under the 2009 Act.

Their job is to ASSESS NEED and TARGET RESOURCES to those local Government District areas (LGDs) WHERE IT IS MOST NEEDED.

The HSCB must understand the health needs and size of our population and identify inequalities in health and access to services here.

Any needs assessment undertaken must identify and ACT ON health needs in the Newry & Mourne Locality (including South Armagh) and provide specialist acute hospital services ( including in the Emergency Department ) in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City, to address these inequalities.

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

You can follow the Daisy Hill Acute Hospital campaign also by visiting and liking our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/daisyhillforlife/ – Thank you.

© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2023. We welcome sharing of excerpts & 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!

This website is a free website from WordPress and adverts which appear here are not endorsed or controlled by the Web admin team of Save Daisy Hill Hospital.com

09.13.17
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Now is the time to make the case for Daisy Hill in the Reshaping Stroke Services Questionnaire

Newry City is the right place for a Hyperacute Stroke Unit and now is the time to get your views in writing to the ones who can make it happen – the Health and Social Care Board, because the Reshaping Stroke Services Pre-Consultation closes tomorrow -Fri 15 Sept 2017 at 5pm.

Please take 10minutes and use this opportunity to help Daisy Hill Acute Hospital and the largest locality in the Southern Trust -Newry & Mourne and South Armagh at long last to get the hospital services they deserve.

But the deadline is 15th Sept by 5pm – so maybe you may need some quick last minute ideas? If so, keep reading, as we have written a SUGGESTED ANSWER SHEET to view or download from this page, for anyone who wishes to use it. To get the sheet now please click on the link that follows > Reshaping Stroke Services Answers

Every person in the house can make the case for Daisy Hill Hospital- by sending views in by email or using the online questionnaire. The more the better to get the message through loud and clear to the HSCB that we wish to see stroke services in Daisy Hill enhanced and we certainly don’t agree with any plans to centralise Stroke Services away from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital to Craigavon.

You can influence this – if you take part.

The HSCB is inviting us all to tell them what we think about their proposals. You can get all consultation docs and questionnaire from http://www.hscboard.hscni.net/stroke/

Make the case for a hyperacute stroke unit in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital Newry - Reshaping Stroke services Pre-consultation 2017

Please write to them with your views but if you’re not sure what to write –or just need some quick inspiration, The Daisy Hill for Life team have prepared a short document with suggested  answers to the 7 questions.

Click on the blue link that follows to view or save it > Reshaping Stroke Services Answers

These answers have been researched and the full explanations are available to see on the Daisy Hill for Life facebook page too if you need to check the reasons why.

After reading the answers we have suggested, if you’re thinking the same way,  – you can copy and paste the answers into the online questionnaire at  www.hscboard.hscni.net/response-form-stroke along with your own comments and answers.

People can also download the Suggested Answers page and copy info from it onto the downloadable word version of the questionnaire you can get from this link then send as an attachment to ReshapingStroke@hscni.net

Before you submit your response – please read the annex of the Reshaping Stroke Services in NI -Pre-consultation Document (p51-52) regarding the confidentiality of responses in the context of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Please remember to add your NAME and ADDRESS – or it will not count.

The last time to submit views is by 5pm on Friday 15th September

Thank you all for all your continuing support – we can do it!
As a community we are strong!

Background info:

“From the time the patient arrives at the door, every minute counts, and the only justifiable delay would be for performing brain imaging studies to exclude haemorrhage and for obtaining a few laboratory tests.- EVERY MINUTE MATTERS DURING A STROKE.”
‘Time is brain’ 13 Saver J L, 2006, ‘Time is Brain-Quantified’, Stroke (37), 263-266.

Newry city is the right place for a hyperacute stroke unit - make the case Reshaping stroke services NI 2017

2019 IMPORTANT UPDATE!

For new information on the 2019 NI stroke Consultation document – please see the following post:

https://savedaisyhillhospital.com/2019/05/05/ni-stroke-consultation-2019-overview/

You can follow the Daisy Hill Acute Hospital campaign also by visiting and liking our Facebook page where you will find current information at https://www.facebook.com/daisyhillforlife/ – Thank you.

© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2017. We welcome sharing of excerpts & 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!

This website is a free website from WordPress and adverts which appear here are not endorsed or controlled by the Web admin team of Save Daisy Hill Hospital.com

09.10.17
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Time to influence Reshaping Stroke Services 2017

The HSC Board Reshaping Stroke Services NI 2017 Document, states the findings of this  Pre- consultation “will inform the design of a new model for stroke services” for NI. (Pg 4)

YOU CAN INFLUENCE THE FINDINGS

To stop the specialist stroke services in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital being centralised to a ‘proposed’ new Hyperacute stroke unit in Craigavon – we must respond & influence this stroke Pre- consultation.

Make the case for a hyperacute stroke unit in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital Newry - Reshaping Stroke services Pre-consultation 2017

To save our existing stroke services, we suggest you ‘Disagree’ to the proposals until we are given more information on the EXACT LOCATION of the proposed hospitals which will provide specialist inpatient stroke services.

GIVE AN ALTERNATIVE

But we need to give an ALTERNATIVE forward looking PROPOSAL for the retention and enhancement of Daisy Hill Acute Hospital as the location for a Hyperacute stroke unit (HASU), co- located with our existing long established Acute Stroke Rehabilitation Unit, which for decades has saved many lives.

10,000 MARCHED

Newry and Mourne population Rally for enhanced Stroke services at Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in 2015

10,000 of us marched to save stroke services in Newry. Future health care provision is at stake here. If this centralisation of Stroke Services to Craigavon Hospital goes ahead – the Southern Trust will only provide one stroke unit to cater for a population of nearly 400,000 people – the second largest Health Trust in NI.

Newry & Mourne is projected to be the 3rd highest population in NI by 2023 -after only Belfast and Lisburn (Greater Belfast) – we are entitled to a new Hyperacute Stroke Unit – in a NEW LARGE specialist acute hospital in Newry City.

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.

AS A COMMUNITY WE ARE STRONG IF WE WORK TOGETHER

WE CAN DO THIS
– but we need as many people as possible to speak up for Daisy Hill STROKE UNIT again by responding to the the consultation.

Show your support to the staff of Daisy Hill Acute Hospital and speak up for all stroke patients. Thank you !

Background References:
Centralisation is referred to in the ‘Reshaping stroke Services’ Pre-consultation doc P29/30:

“However, it will be proposed that the number of hospitals admitting stroke patients is reduced in future”

Consultation docs are available at:
http://www.hscboard.hscni.net/stroke/
By telephone: Tel 028 9536 3054

How to respond

Responses should be returned to the Health and Social Care Board by 5.00pm on Friday 15 September 2017.

Email: reshapingstroke@hscni.net

Write to:Reshaping Stroke Services,
Commissioning Directorate,
12-22 Linenhall Street
BELFAST  BT2 8BS

You can follow the Daisy Hill Acute Hospital campaign also by visiting and liking our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/daisyhillforlife/ – Thank you.

© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2022. We welcome sharing of excerpts & 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!

This website is a free website from WordPress and adverts which appear here are not endorsed or controlled by the Web admin team of Save Daisy Hill Hospital.com

08.17.17
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Daisy Hill Hospital – an acutely important fact

DAISY HILL is an ‘ACUTE’ hospital; designated by ‘Developing Better Services’ as ‘ACUTE’ to ensure accessibility to acute hospital services for ALL of the population of  the Southern part of NI. As the longest established Acute hospital in the Southern Trust, Daisy Hill is entitled to have a new enhanced hospital, as stated by Peter Hain, MP Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in 2005.

Daisy Hill is one of 10 acute hospitals with equal acute status in Northern Ireland -full list

There are 10 hospitals of equal ‘ACUTE’ status in NI: they are Daisy Hill Hospital, the Royal, the Mater, the City, Alnagelvin, Craigavon, Antrim, Ulster, Causeway and the South West hospital.

‘Developing Better Services’, 2003 is the most recent Government Report to thoroughly investigate the impact of the 4,6 and 9 ACUTE hospital models in NI. This Report (researched over 3 years) concluded that only the 9 acute hospital model met accessibility standards for SAFE ACCESS to EMERGENCY CARE for the WHOLE population of NI no matter where they lived –RURAL OR URBAN. The 4 or 6 model of acute hospitals, which the Donaldson Report promotes will not meet this requirement.

‘Developing Better Services’ evidence showed that 9 acute hospitals and the New South West Hospital in Enniskillen were needed – ALL with 24/7 CONSULTANT–LED A&E and 24/7 CONSULTANT-LED MATERNITY to provide a ‘seamless web of acute hospital care’ giving SAFE TIMELY ACCESS to these ‘core’ services for ALL the population of NI.

Daisy Hill Hospital is an acute hospital to provide a Seamless web of care within the NI hospital network

‘DEVELOPING BETTER SERVICES’ REPORT IS ACUTELY IMPORTANT TODAY

Both Acute and Emergency Services at Daisy Hill Acute Hospital are now being investigated by the Daisy Hill Emergency Pathfinder Project so this ‘Developing Better Services’ Report remains highly relevant to the Daisy Hill Hospital Community Campaign.

CONCLUSION

Any Possible change or withdrawal of ACUTE AND EMERGENCY services from our acute hospital WILL AFFECT its designated ACUTE STATUS.

The Newry, Mourne, South Armagh Locality with a population of c.105,000 people is the largest Local Government District (Locality) in the Southern Trust.  As the 4th highest population in NI (and projected to be the 3rd highest by 2023) we are entitled to have the largest acute hospital in the Southern Trust.

Belfast has four acute hospitals for a population of 285,689.

As Daisy Hill hospital, Newry is the longest established Acute hospital in the Southern Trust, we are entitled to have a new enhanced hospital as stated by Peter Hain, MP Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in 2005.

doctor-eye clinics for Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry

As a community we must stand together united and continue to campaign to SECURE Daisy Hill ACUTE STATUS and to retain and EXPAND ALL 24/7 EMERGENCY AND ACUTE SPECIALIST SERVICES (including Children’s ED and acute services) FOR THE LONG TERM – IN DAISY HILL ACUTE HOSPITAL, Newry City. These are services we pay for.

Background info:

The Bengoa Report recommendations state Emergency and Urgent Care Services are in most need of reform. Bengoa Expert Panel Report 2016, pg 75,76. You can view the Report here:https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/systems-not-structures-changing-health-and-social-care-full-report

Click to access expert-panel-full-report.pdf

Daisy Hill is a designated acute hospital and saves lives - (heart trace banner)

 

You can follow the Daisy Hill Acute Hospital campaign also by visiting and liking our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/daisyhillforlife/ – Thank you.

© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2017. We welcome sharing of excerpts & 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!

This website is a free website from WordPress and adverts which appear here are not endorsed or controlled by the Web admin team of Save Daisy Hill Hospital.com