The Department of Health will soon announce the outcome of the Hospital Network Public Consultation to reveal if Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in Newry has been renamed as an Area Hospital.
Four evidence based reasons for Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry to be renamed as an Area Hospital are:
(1) Historical Basis
(2) Population size
(3) Large land area and
(4) Strategic location.
REASON 1: HISTORICAL BASIS -THE FACTS: DAISY HILL – A NHS HOSPITAL IN 1949 AND 1 OF 9 EQUAL ACUTE HOSPITALS DESIGNATED IN 2003
Daisy Hill in Newry was made an NHS Hospital in 1949, and was designated by Government as one of a REGIONAL Network of nine EQUAL status major Acute Hospitals in NI in 2003. These decisions were made then, because of the large Population and large land area size, after a DOH Regional Consultation, ‘Developing Better Services’.
In 2003 it was a Ministerial Decision by Minister Des Browne to designate Daisy Hill in Newry as one of the 9 Acute Hospitals of Equal standing. All of these nine hospitals are vital to ensure timely access to CONULTANT LED 24/7 Emergency Surgical and Emergency Medical AND MATERNITY Services WITHIN ONE HOUR, to the entire population of NI no matter where they choose to live. * (Ref 1)
REASON 2: POPULATION SIZE –FACT : NEWRY & MOURNE – THIRD HIGHEST POPULATION in NI
Using official NISRA 2026 Estimated population figures, NEWRY & MOURNE (FORMER LGD) IS RANKED THIRD HIGHEST POPULATION OF THE 26 FORMER COUNCILS IN NI.
Ranking out of 26 councils /Name of Council/ 2026 est. Population size
1st out of 26: Belfast LGD -290,808 people
2nd out of 26: Lisburn LGD – 136,843 people
3rd out of 26: Newry & Mourne LGD – 111,508 people
4th out of 26: Derry LGD – 110,577 people
This 3rd place ranking for Newry & Mourne shows its very high population across the NI Region of 26 councils.
NEWRY & MOURNE IN THE TOP FOUR in NI FOR OVER 5O YEARS
NISRA Statistics also show that SINCE 1971 NEWRY & MOURNE LGD HAS RANKED IN THE TOP 4 HIGHEST POPULATIONS IN NI FOR OVER 50 YEARS WITH BELFAST, LISBURN (GREATER BELFAST) AND DERRY. So Newry & Mourne is growing still further and is entitled to have an Area Hospital.
Important Note: NI Health Care Trusts are still officially organised under the 26 council model.**(Ref 2)
REASON 3: LAND MASS AREA – FACT: NEWRY & MOURNE – THIRD LARGEST IN NI
NEWRY & MOURNE (Former LGD) IS RANKED THIRD LARGEST OF THE LAND MASS areas of the 26 former councils in NI.
Using official NISRA Land Measurements, Fermanagh has the largest land measurement with 1699.3sq km. Omagh is second (1129.9sq km) and Newry & Mourne is third largest land measurement with 898.3 sq km ***(Ref3)
Newry city is the main Gateway to NI, strategically located on the Belfast-Dublin Trans European Network, Road, Rail, and Sea economic corridor where hundreds of thousands travel through yearly. Newry is also the Gateway to the three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty which comprise the designated Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark which also attract many thousands of visitors travelling through the Newry area annually. Newry has excellent road and rail links, and is connected to the major Port of Warrenpoint. Daisy Hill ACUTE Hospital is located at this major population settlement in Newry.
CONCLUSION – SOLUTIONS TO HOSPITAL NETWORK REFORM
Acute Hospital status, Population, Land mass and location are the 4 main factors to determine the entitlement for an Area Hospital for Daisy Hill, Hospital, Newry in the proposed regional network.
Daisy Hill Hospital is entitled to have a full range of specialist acute services and inpatient beds, along with 24/7 consultant led Accident & Emergency, with emergency surgery and consultant led maternity services just the same as the other named Area Hospitals, in the proposed new Network of Hospitals.****(Ref 4)
To ensure equality of timely access to Consultant Led 24/7 365 Regional inpatient acute Services like Accident and Emergency surgical and Medical services like Heart and Stroke, and consultant led maternity services all Area Hospitals should be selected based on where the people (population) actually live.
The choice of location of Area Hospitals should not be made on the size of the hospital but should take into account the size of the population at each of the former Local Government Districts. The figures should be standardised population sizes and the land mass area to be covered by the fire and rescue service and ambulance service at each former local government district level, not just at a Regional level.
Doing this will show that Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry city is entitled to be an Area Hospital. The facts speak for themselves.
REFERENCES / BACKGROUND
*Ref 1 Developing Better Services (The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety) Minister of State Desmond Browne, 2003.
** Ref 2 THE ORGANISATION OF NI HEALTH CARE IS STILL UNDER THE 26 COUNCIL MODEL
Operational areas in Health trusts still remain under the 26 council model. The former 26 Councils or Local Government Districts (LGDS) or localities are still named in legislation and remain as the Operational area of NI Health Trusts (Establishment Order 2006) and Commissioning Groups.
***Ref 3 Statistics on Population and Land Mass are from Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).
****Ref 4 Department of Health Consultation ‘Hospitals – Creating a Network for Better Outcomes’
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.
The Southern Trust has now officially withdrawn the High Dependency Unit at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry and seriously ill patients needing Level 2 High Dependency Care are now sent to Craigavon Hospital instead.
WHAT IS HIGH DEPENDENCY CARE AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?
It was a Ministerial decision by Mr Edwin Poots MLA to open a new 10 bed High Dependency Unit in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry in 2012, because of the number of seriously ill patients (volumes) needing timely access to Critical Care that only a HDU or Intensive Care Unit (ICU) can provide. (Ref 1).
Daisy Hill’s High Dependency Unit was situated on Level 3 as can be seen from the accompanying picture taken in 2014.
Speaking in 2014 about the Daisy Hill High Dependency Unit (HDU) Dr Shane Moan Consultant Respiratory Physician at DHH stated in Southern Trust promotional material,: “It’s a Ten bedded unit with 2 isolation rooms, It’s spacious, airy, it’s for the delivery of care to Level 2 patients, those are patients who are seriously and critically ill, who require close monitoring, high level of nursing and medical care. Patients are able to receive high quality care and we will recognise deteriorations earlier, hopefully avert the need for patients to be transferred to the intensive care unit. Or if the patient does need to be transferred to the intensive care unit, we will be more advanced in plans for transfer at an earlier stage, so then it’s safer.”
>‘STRENGTHENING THE HIGH DEPENDENCY UNIT (HDU) AT DAISY HILL HOSPITAL’ WAS A KEY OBJECTIVE FOR DEPT. OF HEALTH DHH PATHFINDER PROJECT
The Southern Trust decision to withdraw this Regional Service (High Dependency) goes against the Department of Health’s own 2021 Project Objective for Daisy Hill Hospital to have its HDU strengthened.
The Department of Health wrote: ‘OBJECTIVE: ‘TO IMPROVE UNSCHEDULED AND ACUTE MEDICAL SERVICES ON THE DAISY HILL HOSPITAL SITE BY STRENGTHENING THE HIGH DEPENDENCY UNIT’.
Quote from the Department of Health, Health and Well Being 2026 -Delivering Together Progress Report 2021: Development of The Daisy Hill Pathfinder, p106) (Ref 2).
It is also stated in DOH Health and Wellbeing 2026 Delivering Together Progress Report 2021 that under the Regional project ‘Development of The Daisy Hill Pathfinder’ the Department were prepared to invest nearly £6 million pounds to develop Daisy Hill Hospital services, especially it’s High Dependency Unit. (Ref 2).
DAISY HILL HIGH DEPENDENCY UNIT NOW REMOVED BY SOUTHERN TRUST
In complete contrast to the DOH decision above, the Southern Trust website, the News page on 31 July 2025 shows that the Southern Trust has now removed the HDU from Daisy Hill. This change was based on recommendations from their own Southern Trust ‘DHH Expert Panel’ report. Page 1 of this Expert Panel report stated:
“1.The Provision Of A Unit With A Remit To Provide Level 2/High Dependency Care… on The Daisy Hill Hospital Site CANNOT BE JUSTIFIED ON THE BASIS OF HISTORIC OR CURRENT WORKLOAD” (Ref 3)
However looking at the evidence from Department of Health officially recorded high case volumes in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital’s High Dependency Unit from 2014 -2020, Both historic and modern Regional Critical Care statistics CONFIRM THAT DAISY HILL ACUTE HOSPITAL IN NEWRY HAD THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF INPATIENTS needing High Dependency Critical Care services in all of NI each year since April 2014 to end March 2020. (Ref 4)
These Regional Critical Care Stats show 18,709 patients over six years received life saving critical care in Daisy Hill HDU. That is an average of 3,118 seriously ill patients being cared for in Daisy Hill specialist Acute Hospital HDU Yearly. (Ref 4)
The Royal Victoria Hospital was second highest with a 14,775 total inpatients in HDU for the same six years (2014 to end March 2020), or a yearly average of 2,463 seriously ill patients needing High Dependency care.
More recent DoH figures for the year 2019/20 show that 3,642 critically ill patients in need of timely access to Critical Care Services were admitted to the High Dependency Unit in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in Newry. (Ref 4)
That equates to an average of 70 EXTREMELY ILL PATIENTS A WEEK who needed HDU Critical Care services in Daisy Hill in 2019/20.
EVIDENCE > DAISY HILL HOSPITAL’S HIGH DEPENDENCY UNIT HAD THE HIGHEST PATIENT VOLUMES OF ALL HDUs in NI FROM 2014 -2020
Evidence and statistics from Department of Health Regional Critical Care statistics (above) contradicts the ‘DHH Expert Panel’ report’s statement on page1: “1.the provision of a unit with a remit to provide level 2 /high dependency care… On the daisy hill hospital site cannot be justified on the basis of historic or current workload”
>According to Department of Health Regional Critical Care statistics Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry in fact had the HIGHEST NUMBER/volumes of patients’ in HDUs IN ALL of NI for 6 CONSECUTIVE YEARS.
CONCLUSION – DAISY HILL HDU MUST BE RE-INSTATED
The Dept of Health is in control of Regional services based on the entire population, and Regional services have to be FAIRLY AND EQUITABLY provided across NI. The Southern Trust should not have withdrawn this vitally important life saving Regional service, High Dependency Unit from Newry’s Daisy Hill Acute Hospital without Regional public consultation.
All Trusts must follow the DoH objectives, statistics and do things properly, follow the chain of command and follow correct procedures when dealing with Regional public services and dealing with public money.
It is vitally important; that reasons given for removing Critical Care and other Regional Services from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry must be informed by accurate volumes of inpatients taken from DOH Hospital Inpatient Statistics and Population Needs Assessment. All specialist and Regional services are planned, managed and delivered on a REGIONAL basis through the Department of Health so there must be Regional Public Consultation before any permanent changes are made to any Regional Service including HDU Critical Care services in Daisy Hill Hospital.
The Dept. of Health DHH Pathfinder Project invested time and money ‘to improve unscheduled and acute medical services on the DHH site by Strengthening the High Dependency Unit’ – so it is not in the Southern Trust remit to undo this good work.
In summary – justification for the need for a High Dependency Unit in Daisy Hill could not be clearer. The reasons include the DOH officially recorded high case volumes in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital’s High Dependency Unit from 2014 -2020 and official backing from the Department of Health as shown in the Delivering Together Progress Report 2021.
Daisy Hill Acute Hospital High Dependency Unit must be reinstated immediately.
New Unit Opens At Daisy Hill Hospital 21/08/2012. ‘Health Minister Edwin Poots has officially opened a new High Dependency Unit at Daisy Hill Hospital’.
Ref 2: Delivering Together Progress Report 2021: Development Of The Daisy Hill Pathfinder 2021’, (page 106) (Department of Health for NI):
Ref 3: ‘Daisy Hill Hospital (DHH) Expert Panel – Chair’s Final Report to the Chief Executive (Southern Trust) – 21 February 2024’:
Ref 4: Background Factual Information/Statistics: Source Department of Health (DoH) Last updated: April 2021.
Specialist Services Daisy Hill Hospital Critical Care High Dependency Unit Inpatient Activity Numbers:
April 2014- March 2015: 2,558 inpatients
April 2015- March 2016: 3,066 inpatients
April 2016 – March 2017: 3,046 inpatients
April 2017 – March 2018: 3,165 inpatients
April 2018-March 2019: 3,232 inpatients
April 2019- March 2020: 3,642 inpatients
Critical Care Unit capacity across Northern Ireland is defined in two ways: level two (high dependency [HDU]) and level three (intensive care [ICU]). 2020
High Dependency Unit (HDU) Daisy Hill Hospital Newry is situated on the Third Floor. (Lift 1 Picture, 2014).
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.
LAST DAY! CLOSES TODAY! Sat 28th June 5pm. STILL TIME to Write For your Equality Rights & Help Daisy Hill Hospital:: Doh Draft Equality & Disability Public Consultation 2025
>The deadline is TODAY – so Please reply by closing date this Saturday 28th June 2025@5pm.
(Full Consultation Information is available from the Background / Links section at the end of the page.)
Click on the LINK below to go to the Webpage to make an Online Response to the Draft Equality & Disability Action Plans 2025-2030‘
Scroll to ‘Give your Views’ > Online Consultation.
Note: As you work through the form, click Continue to go on to the next Question.
The Consultation Closes on Saturday 28th June at 5pm.
BACKGROUND / LINKS
The link below is the main Consultation link from the Department of Health website It gives all documents including main report, and all Appendices. Consultation Questionnaire Word document all available to download and read. LINK ********DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ONLINE CONSULTATION LINK – CLICK BELOW
There are 3 WAYS TO RESPOND to Department of Health Draft Equality & Disability Action Plans Consultation 2025 – 2030
1>By Email > Send your completed Questionnaire by email to the Department by attaching the Consultation Questionnaire to the email address: equality&humanrights@health-ni.gov.uk
2>By Online Questionnaire
Click on the Online Questionnaire link below and scroll down to and click ‘have your say’
3>By Post > A hard copy of your response Questionnaire can also be sent in Writing to:
Write to: Equality and Human Rights Unit, Castle Buildings, Stormont, Belfast,
Northern Ireland, BT4 3SQ
By the Closing Date of Saturday 28th June 2025 by 5pm.
For Enquiries on the Department of Health Draft Equality & Disability Action Plans Consultation 2025 – 2030 the contact email is: equality&humanrights@health-ni.gov.uk
Department of Health General Telephone number is : Telephone: 028 9052 0500
WHY ANSWER THIS CONSULTATION?
Why? Newry, is the Gateway to NI on the TENS European Road, Rail, and Sea economic corridor where hundreds of thousands travel through (mainly by road) yearly. Yet, vital Regional Emergency Services including Emergency Surgery was withdrawn permanently from Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry (without Regional Public Consultation.) Regional Emergency Surgery and Emergency medical inpatient beds needs to be provided, not removed from Daisy Hill acute hospital, Newry to make sure there is timely access to Emergency Services for all patients, (locals and visitors alike) including for potential road, work, and farm accidents. There is Geographical inequality here, as access to timely life saving emergency treatment is denied to many large populations. This must be changed.
We must put our objection down in writing as part of this consultation to the singling out of Daisy Hill Hospital for downgrading of Regional Inpatient Hospital services which will remove time critical equitable access to some vital Regional Emergency Services (and specialist acute inpatient services always provided in Daisy Hill Hospital) that the population of Newry Mourne and Down have vital need for and have paid for.
Thank you. Please Share if you think this will help someone else take part in this very important Consultation for the future of Daisy Hill Hospital and its dedicated staff.
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.
Write For Your Equality Rights (DoH Draft Equality/Disability Public Consultation 2025)
This time two years ago, on 25th June 2023 people came out in their thousands to show their support for Daisy Hill Hospital at the SOS Daisy Hill Hospital Committee Public Rally in Newry. People here care and will show up for Daisy Hill, the designated Acute Hospital in Newry city.
Now its June 2025, so have there been announcements of more investment for specialist acute services for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, for its large and growing population? After all, Official population figures right back to 1971 show that Newry & Mourne (former) local government district (LGD) has always ranked in the TOP 4 populations in NI.
No, instead of return of specialist services (like Emergency Surgery and acute stroke) and more capital investment for Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry, (Apart from proposing some essential Electrical Maintenance), the following is recorded in the DOH 2023-4 Annual Report :
‘Progress and key achievements in 2023/24: The initial phases of REMODELLING THE ACUTE MODEL at Daisy Hill Hospital by REDUCING BED CAPACITY and INCREASING COMMUNITY based medical management. Further development is ongoing in 2024-25 and it is expected that OTHER LOCAL HOSPITALS CAN LEARN from this model in the future.’ (Department of Health Annual Report 2023-4, Page 10)
COMPARING THE TWO SOUTHERN TRUST ACUTE HOSPITALS – DAISY HILL, NEWRY AND CRAIGAVON (From 2023- on)
While the longest established Hospital in the Southern Trust, Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry gets ‘remodelled’ /’reconfigured’, ‘re-designated’ by re-moving /withdrawing and centralising its specialist services to Craigavon and vital equipment for the LONG TERM future is stalled again e.g. CT/ MRI Scanners. There is a different story in the other Acute Hospital in the Southern Trust, (newly built in 1971). Craigavon Hospital is treated much more favourably in the Department of Health Budget 2023-24 with the opposite proposal of EXTRA BEDS:
‘There are a number of critical capital schemes that the Department would like to commence in 2023/24 which include…THE PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL BED CAPACITY at CRAIGAVON Area Hospital’ (Department of Health Budget 2023-24 Equality Impact Assessment, page 10.)
CRAIGAVON CAPITAL PROPOSAL FOR £2.4 BILLION: REVENUE £38.5 MILLION. FUNDING STREAM IS NAMED AS DOH.
Craigavon Hospital continues to get major investment, beds, equipment and staff and still wants MORE
E.g. Southern Trust Board Report Jan 2025 lists the ‘new Capital Proposal for Craigavon Area Hospital Site Wide Redevelopment Programme with a Capital/Revenue Value £2.4 BILLION/ Revenue £38.5million.’ The Funding Stream is named as DOH. (Department of Health)
NEWRY & MOURNE HAS A HIGHER POPULATION THAN CRAIGAVON
Official population figures right back to 1971 show that Newry & Mourne local government district (LGD) has always ranked in the top 4 populations in NI and since 2007 has always had the HIGHEST population of the 5 LGD areas in the Southern Trust area. (See References for Figures)
So, given the consistently large recorded population size – where is the access to timely Regional Emergency Services and Specialist inpatient services at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry, for the people of Newry, Mourne & Down?
Lack of inpatient hospital access (to the only hospital in this area – Daisy Hill) is a major health inequality affecting the adults and children who live in Newry & Mourne. And how can people bring this inequality to light in 2025?
The Department of Health has developed New Draft Equality and Draft Disability Action Plans for 2025 to 2030. They write: “This consultation gives you an opportunity to tell us what you think should be included in our Equality Action Plan and Disability Action Plans for the next 5 years.”This Regional Consultation is our chance to put in writing the need for Equality in Newry Mourne and Down.
>WHY ANSWER THIS NEW CONSULTATION?
The DOH has given an opportunity to write to them directly about inequalities so this is a real chance to write about major health inequalities in the Southern Trust. This inequality affects all Section 75 groups in the population regarding lack of access to acute hospital inpatient treatment at Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in Newry, because vital TIMELY life saving Regional Accident and Emergency Medical inpatient services (like Stroke, timely Emergency Surgical inpatient Services, and vital timely Critical Care Services High Dependency beds) were withdrawn from Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry without the Department going to the necessary Public Regional Consultations.
Emergency Surgery was removed permanently in Jan 2024 when there was no NI Executive in place. It was also announced Daisy Hill Hospital change of use to a Regional Elective care centre, and removal of beds without Public Regional Consultation. These are huge inequalities as it was the only acute Hospital in NI treated this way and will have a negative effect on health outcomes of the very large numbers of children and adults living here.
Newry & Mourne is a major settlement, the 4th highest population in NI and has always had the highest (former) local government district population in the Southern Trust operational area, but it is being wrongly categorised as an ‘isolated community’ in the DoH Hospital Network Consultation. Newry & Mourne is not an isolated community; the populations’ needs are not being assessed correctly.
To help people write in to the Department about inequality in this Public Consultation – Some suggested Answers will be available on this page.
The Southern Trust Operational Area is still the former five Local Government Districts of Newry & Mourne, Armagh, Craigavon, Dungannon and Banbridge. Projected population for 2026 in Southern Trust/ SLCG: Newry & Mourne (111,508); Craigavon (109,655); Armagh (66,848); Dungannon (67,870) and Banbridge (53,202) NISRA June 2025.
Department of Health Budget (DoH) 2023-24 Equality Impact Assessment, Page 10
Department of Health Annual Report 2023-4, Page 10)
*Definition –‘Centralise’ “concentrate under one control” (Collins English Dictionary)
The link above is the main Consultation link from the Department of Health website . It gives all documents including main report, Rural Impact and Equality Impact Assessments, Consultation Questionnaire Word document all available to download and read.
Public Consultations should be freely accessible to all – if you are unable to save or open any of the Department of Health Consultation documents in the formats provided – please contact the Department of Health using the information provided below, to let them know and see if they can offer alternative formats.
WAYS TO RESPOND TO THE CONSULTATION
There are 3 WAYS TO RESPOND to Department of Health Draft Equality & Disability Action Plans Consultation 2025 – 2030
1>By Email > Send your completed Questionnaire by email to the Department by attaching the Consultation Questionnaire to the email address: equality&humanrights@health-ni.gov.uk
2>By Online Questionnaire
Click on the Online Questionnaire link below and scroll down to and click ‘have your say’
3>By Post > A hard copy of your response Questionnaire can also be sent in Writing to:
Write to: Equality and Human Rights Unit, Castle Buildings, Stormont, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT4 3SQ
By the Closing Date of Saturday 28th June 2025 by 5pm.
For Enquiries on the Department of Health Draft Equality & Disability Action Plans Consultation 2025 – 2030 the contact email is: equality&humanrights@health-ni.gov.uk
Department of Health General Telephone number is : Telephone: 028 9052 0500
Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry City
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
WHY DAISY HILL HOSPITAL IN NEWRY IS ENTITLED TO BE AN AREA HOSPITAL:
>Reason 1 – Population fact 1: Out of 17 GP Federations in NI, Newry & District GP Federation has the 2nd highest number of patients (161,308) registered after only Derry GP Federation since 2017 (Source: DOH 2023/24).
Newry & District includes 36,018 children and young people aged U18, the 2nd highest of the 17 GP Federations after only Derry (Source: DOH 2023/24).
Reason 2 – Population fact 2: Newry & Mourne Local Government District (One of 26 Former Councils) RANKED IN THE TOP FOUR HIGHEST POPULATION CENTRES In NI after only Belfast, Derry and Lisburn. (From 1971 to 2014)
Reason 3> Population fact 3: Newry & Mourne LGD has ALWAYS HAD THE HIGHEST POPULATION of the 5 LGDS in the operational area of Southern Trust. (Source NISRA). The 5 LGDS are Newry & Mourne, Craigavon, Armagh, Dungannon and Banbridge.
Reason 4 – Landmass fact : Newry & Mourne local government district area alone has the 3RD LARGEST LANDMASS in NI (898.3 Sq Km: Source NISRA).
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.
YOUR HELP NEEDED: ANOTHER BUDGET, ANOTHER BOOST FOR CRAIGAVON – BUT WHAT ABOUT DAISY HILL?
Today’s another day to do something good for Daisy Hill. Thanks to everyone who took part in the Hospital Network consultation. This time it’s all about the MONEY! £££. The next stage of the plan is to please help Daisy Hill again, through the Department of Health Draft BUDGET 2025-6 Consultation.
By taking part you can make a difference and help stop the cull of more acute hospital services from Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry.
As this Budget is all about CAPITAL spending, by taking part people will also be helping keep with one of the SOS Daisy Hill Hospital Committee’s main strategic objectives (mentioned in the lead up to their 2024 AGM) which is ‘(2) To lobby in the long term for more capital spend on Daisy Hill so it has the architectural build of a 21st century acute hospital.’
We need to ask the Department directly for funding for Stage 1 Redevelopment of Daisy Hill as an acute Area Hospital as well as funding for specialist INPATIENT acute services (especially Emergency, including Surgery and Stroke etc) and more inpatient beds and specialist Clinical staff for Daisy Hill in Newry.
The Southern Trust won’t ask for capital investment for Daisy Hill – but weall can ask the Department and the Minister directly through the Budget Consultation for Daisy Hill’s share. It only takes 5 minutes and some suggested answers are here for you with this post. (See below)
The closing date is very soon as replies have to be in by NEXT Wednesday 09 April. Sorry for the short notice – as we only heard about this recently.
HOW AND WHY?
From Day 1 when they took over in 2007, the Southern Trust put the need to redevelop Craigavon Hospital first, in front of Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry. Their Business Plans from 2007 onwards show this. (See Refs). This is despite the fact they were both hospitals of equal Acute status. Now it’s 2025, another Budget and despite ££££millions already spent on Craigavon, they want to spend MORE.
For those who think this is because Craigavon has a bigger population – it doesn’t – Newry & Mourne locality has ALWAYS had the highest population of the 5 localities (lgds) in the Southern Trust.
So, when will it be Daisy Hill Acute Hospital’s turn for some proper funding for redevelopment?
THE BUDGET PROPOSALS – CAPITAL SPENDING
>>The DOH Draft Budget 2025-26 proposes funding for extra hospital beds capacity for Craigavon Hospital, as a ‘critical’ capital scheme, but the ‘critical’ Budget proposal for Newry is not for extra bed capacity or future redevelopment of Daisy Hill Hospital or funding for specialist acute services – but instead to build a new Community Treatment Centre (Health Centre) in Newry, (P15/17 Equality doc).
>>This new community treatment centre is to be built (costing approx £88.3million) with the purpose of stripping acute hospital services from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital. In the trust’s own words:
“The Trust is continuing to progress plans for a Health and Care centre in Newry which will support the shift of Acute services primarily from Daisy Hill Hospital to a community facility.”
(*Southern Trust Delivery Plan 2018/19).
The Southern Trust is again completely focused on asking DOH for funding to enhance Craigavon Hospital but not for funding for beds or Consultant – led inpatient acute SERVICES in Daisy Hill acute Hospital in Newry, in another unfair allocation of resources. This is being done without a proper assessment of the needs of the 3rd largest council in NI: Newry Mourne and Down population of c182,634 (NISRA Sept 2024).
BUT YOU CAN HELP! Health Minister Mr Mike Nesbitt MLA wants to know if we agree with this Dept of Health Draft Budget Consultation 2025-26 and replies will be taken into consideration. They say: ‘All responses will be considered as part of the Department of Health funding decisions.’
Please join in and write and ask for a fair share for Newry’s Daisy Hill. We will not get another chance to do this.
Since the Southern Trust decided not to include Daisy Hill Hospital in their rebuilding plans we must let the DOH know the budget injustices in the Southern Trust.
SUGGESTED ANSWERS AVAILABLE HERE
Suggested Answers to the three Questions asked in the DOH NI Consultation: Equality Impact and Rural Needs Impact Assessment of the 2025-26 Draft Budget are available with this post and (if you want) you can copy and paste the answers into your own email to Email: draftbudget25-26response@health-ni.gov.uk (By NEXT Wednesday 9th April 2025)
Please share to help spread the word to everyone you know. Thank you.
Suggested answers here and on the facebook page.
TO DOWNLOAD THE SHORTER ANSWERS
>For people with access to Microsoft word a Word document (Shorter suggested answers) to attach to your email is available to Download below.
Or if you cant download the file – please see below:
Shorter Answers to the three Questions asked in the Consultation on the Department of Health Draft Budget 2025-26 Equality Impact Assessment.
Q4. a. Are there any adverse impacts in relation to any of the Section 75 equality groups that have not been identified in section 5 of the EQIA Consultation document? If so, what are they?
Yes there are harmful impacts that have not been identified. The ‘critical spend’ to build a new ‘Newry Community Treatment Centre’ will allow the removal of more ‘acute services’ which are being stripped and transferred from Newry’s Acute Hospital at Daisy Hill. As the Southern Trust Delivery Plan 2018/19, p97 states: *“The Trust is continuing to progress plans for a Health and Care centre in Newry which will support the shift of Acute services primarily from Daisy Hill Hospital to a community facility.”
All Equality groups in the large population of Newry & Mourne will be denied timely access to acute hospital inpatient services they need (previously provided in Daisy Hill Hospital). This will mean they will be further disadvantaged as they will unacceptably have to travel all the way to Craigavon to access vital hospital inpatient acute services (including in an emergency). This will cost them extra money, and make it more difficult for them to access a necessary public service, for which funding had been allocated for them.
b. Please state what action you think could be taken to reduce or eliminate any adverse impacts in allocation of the Department’s draft budget?
Action 1: Redirect the proposed funding for (1) ‘Newry Community Treatment Centre’ (c£88.3 million) and (2) ‘additional bed capacity at Craigavon’ and use it instead for extra inpatient acute beds in Daisy Hill Hospital and to provide the first stage of a new major specialist acute Area Hospital building in Newry City. This new hospital should be secured for the long term future in Newry as an Area Acute Hospital with 24/7 Level 1 ED, ICU and permanent major diagnostic equipment including MRI, CT and non obstetric ultrasound scanning equipment, (essential for retention of specialist clinical staff).
C: Are there any other comments you would like to make in regard to this EQIA or the consultation process generally?
When Health Budgets are shared out they are supposed to be allocated fairly but these budget proposals are not based on the needs of all the population in the Southern Trust. Newry & District has the second highest number of Patients of the 17 GP Registers in NI (c161,308) (DOH 2023) after only Derry and the continued failure of the Southern Trust to provide TIMELY access to specialist hospital inpatient healthcare in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in Newry can be ignored no longer.
Under the Rural Needs Act it is the duty of the Department to ensure that the social and economic needs of the Newry Mourne and Down area is looked after. The economic prosperity of rural areas depends on employment opportunities that having a fully functioning specialist Acute Hospital like Daisy Hill brings. Newry is the gateway to NI and there must be a major acute Area hospital with 24/7 Level 1 ED to provide for road, farm, school, and work accidents etc this must be considered and can’t be ignored.
END OF SHORTER ANSWER SHEET (Answers V2a)
TO DOWNLOAD MORE DETAILED ANSWERS – SEE BELOW
Longer Answer Sheet to Download to your device (Response V1b)
>For people with access to Microsoft word, a Word document (Longer suggested answers) to attach to your email is available to Download below, by clicking on the Download button.
If you can’t download the file – For Suggested Answers Pages- longer and shorter versions please see the links below for the answers in full on the Daisy Hill for Life website:
Department of Health NI Consultation: Equality Impact and Rural Needs Impact Assessment of the 2025-26 Budget Outcome – all documents available from the Department of Health’s website and link below:
Information on this and other similar topics is also available at the companion Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/daisyhillforlife/ Please Follow or Like the Page to receive updates. Thank you.
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We welcome sharing of this info and the use of excerpts and links, please give full and clear credit to http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com and Daisy Hill for Life with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank-you.
Completed Answers to the three Questions asked about the Department of Health Draft Budget 2025-26 Equality Impact Assessment. (shorter version)
Q4. a. Are there any adverse impacts in relation to any of the Section 75 equality groups that have not been identified in section 5 of the EQIA Consultation document? If so, what are they?
Yes there are harmful impacts that have not been identified. The ‘critical spend’ to build a new ‘Newry Community Treatment Centre’ will allow the removal of more ‘acute services’ which are being stripped and transferred from Newry’s Acute Hospital at Daisy Hill. As the Southern Trust Delivery Plan 2018/19, p97 states: *“The Trust is continuing to progress plans for a Health and Care centre in Newry which will support the shift of Acute services primarily from Daisy Hill Hospital to a community facility.”
All Equality groups in the large population of Newry & Mourne will be denied timely access to acute hospital inpatient services they need (previously provided in Daisy Hill Hospital). This will mean they will be further disadvantaged as they will unacceptably have to travel all the way to Craigavon to access vital hospital inpatient acute services (including in an emergency). This will cost them extra money, and make it more difficult for them to access a necessary public service, for which funding had been allocated for them.
b. Please state what action you think could be taken to reduce or eliminate any adverse impacts in allocation of the Department’s draft budget?
Action 1: Redirect the proposed funding for (1) ‘Newry Community Treatment Centre’ (c£88.3 million) and (2) ‘additional bed capacity at Craigavon’ and use it instead for extra inpatient acute beds in Daisy Hill Hospital and to provide the first stage of a new major specialist acute Area Hospital building in Newry City. This new hospital should be secured for the long term future in Newry as an Area Acute Hospital with 24/7 Level 1 ED, ICU and permanent major diagnostic equipment including MRI, CT and non obstetric ultrasound scanning equipment, (essential for retention of specialist clinical staff).
C: Are there any other comments you would like to make in regard to this EQIA or the consultation process generally?
When Health Budgets are shared out they are supposed to be allocated fairly but these budget proposals are not based on the needs of all the population in the Southern Trust. Newry & District has the second highest number of Patients of the 17 GP Registers in NI (c161,308) (DOH 2023) after only Derry and the continued failure of the Southern Trust to provide TIMELY access to specialist hospital inpatient healthcare in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in Newry can be ignored no longer.
Under the Rural Needs Act it is the duty of the Department to ensure that the social and economic needs of the Newry Mourne and Down area is looked after. The economic prosperity of rural areas depends on employment opportunities that having a fully functioning specialist Acute Hospital like Daisy Hill brings. Newry is the gateway to NI and there must be a major acute Area hospital with 24/7 Level 1 ED to provide for road, farm, school, and work accidents etc this must be considered and can’t be ignored.
Shorter Suggested Answers Ends Here
Ways to Respond
All responses will be considered as part of the Department of Health funding decisions.
Comments on the Departments 2025-26 Draft Budget Equality Impact Assessment can be submitted by email.
Email: draftbudget25-26response@health-ni.gov.uk
Compose a New Message (or use pen icon)
Put Email Address: draftbudget25-26response@health-ni.gov.uk into the ‘To‘ field of the Email (Recipient) write an Email in the normal way – you can type your comments and copy and paste any of these suggested answers as you wish.
Give your name and ask for a reply.
Click Send
Links and Background
CONSULTATION LINK
Department of Health NI Consultation: Equality Impact and Rural Needs Impact Assessment of the 2025-26 Budget Outcome – all documents available from the link below:
Information on this and other similar topics is also available at the companion Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/daisyhillforlife/ Please Follow or Like the Page to receive updates. Thank you.
Subscribe to Blog via Email
Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.
We welcome sharing of this info and the use of excerpts and links, please give full and clear credit to http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com and Daisy Hill for Life with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank-you.
>For people with access to Microsoft word, a Word document (Longer suggested answer to answer the three Questions asked) to attach to your email is available to Download below.
If you can’t download the file – please see below for the Answers to the three questions asked (Q4a – c, page 51 of EQIA doc:
Response to the Department of Health Draft Budget 2025-26 Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA). (Longer version, V1b)
4. As part of the consultation process, we invite stakeholders to consider the information included within this EQIA and provide feedback through the following consultation questions.
Q4. a. Are there any adverse impacts in relation to any of the Section 75 equality groups that have not been identified in section 5 of the EQIA Consultation document? If so, what are they?
Yes, all nine equality groups in Newry & Mourne Local Government District, the highest LGD population in the Southern Trust area, (with the largest population of children), will be harmed by the Southern Trust budget proposal to spend c£88.3 million to build a new ‘Newry Community Treatment Centre’ in Newry for ‘acute services’ which are being stripped and transferred from Newry’s Acute Hospital at Daisy Hill.
The Southern Trust Delivery Plan 2018/19, p97 has already stated regarding the purpose of this Treatment centre: “The Trust is continuing to progress plans for a Health and Care centre in Newry which will support the shift of Acute services primarily from Daisy Hill Hospital to a community facility.”
Serious harmful impacts will arise from this – It is not equal treatment for this budget to allow the removal of acute services from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry, while the budget proposal for Craigavon Hospital is to expand ‘extra bed capacity’, all decided without a Population Needs Assessment. NISRA Population statistics show that there has always been a higher population in Newry & Mourne Locality/lgd than in Craigavon Locality/lgd.
The large population of Newry & Mourne will be denied access to acute hospital inpatient services they need (previously provided in Daisy Hill Hospital) meaning they will be further disadvantaged as they will unacceptably have to travel all the way to Craigavon to access hospital inpatient acute services (including in an emergency). This will cost them extra money, and make it more difficult for them to access a necessary public service, for which funding had been allocated for them.
It will also take jobs away from Newry and must be examined in terms of human rights and good relations.
Please look at the Census 2021 data on religious background and political background by local government district ward.
Q4b. Please state what action you think could be taken to reduce or eliminate any adverse impacts in allocation of the Department’s draft budget?
The DOH have a duty of care to ensure Daisy Hill Acute Hospital gets the funding for services, redevelopment and clinical staff it is entitled to and must be included in Southern Trust requested budget allocations. The DOH must ensure funding is spread evenly and fairly across both Acute Hospitals in the Southern Trust: Daisy Hill, Newry and Craigavon Hospital.
To reduce harmful impacts please do the following:
Action 1: As Newry & Mourne LGD has always had the highest Locality/LGD population in the Southern Trust, Redirect proposed funding for (1) ‘Newry Community Treatment Centre’ (c£88.3 million) and (2) ‘additional bed capacity at Craigavon’ and use it instead for extra inpatient acute beds in Daisy Hill Hospital and to provide the first stage of a new major specialist acute Area Hospital building in Newry City. This new hospital should be secured for the long term future in Newry as an Acute Area Hospital with 24/7 Level 1 ED, ICU and permanent major diagnostic equipment, (essential for retention of specialist clinical staff).
Action 2: Carry out an accurate assessment of the needs of the population to make sure there is equality of TIMELY access to acute inpatient hospital services provided in the Southern Trust area. The population of 161,308 people on Doctors Registers in Newry & District (DoH 2023) need guarantees there will be proper long term investment in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in Newry.
Action 3: The Southern Trust should urgently bring back Daisy Hill Hospital 10 bedded High Dependency Unit (HDU) in Newry which was taken away to Craigavon Hospital during the beginning of the pandemic. (Daisy Hill Hospital HDU was identified as essential by Daisy Hill Pathfinder Report in 2017).
Action 4: Use the Funding to restore Emergency Surgery and Acute Stroke beds to Daisy Hill Acute Hospital (DHH), Newry. The Nuffield Trust: March 2023 stated clearly that Hyper Acute Stroke Unit Beds were urgently needed in DHH, but Southern Trust still need to ask the DOH for funding for these beds in their business plans.
Q4c. Are there any other comments you would like to make in regard to this EQIA or the consultation process generally?
When Health Budgets are shared out they are supposed to be allocated fairly but these budget proposals are not based on the needs of all the population in the Southern Trust. Newry & District has the second highest number of Patients of the 17 GP Registers in NI (c161,308) (DOH 2023) after only Derry and the continued failure of the Southern Trust to provide TIMELY access to specialist hospital inpatient healthcare in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in Newry can be ignored no longer.
Re Rural Needs Assessment: Under the Rural Needs Act it is the duty of the Department to ensure that the social and economic needs of the Newry Mourne and Down area is looked after. The economic prosperity of rural areas depends on employment opportunities that having a fully functioning specialist Acute Hospital like Daisy Hill brings. Newry is the gateway to NI and there must be a major Area acute hospital with 24/7 Level 1 ED to provide for road, farm, school, and work accidents etc this must be considered and can’t be ignored.
Re Rural Impact: pg 8 EQIA states page: ‘Trusts may have to consider implementing measures with high and catastrophic impact on a range of services which will undoubtedly have direct patient consequences.’ But in the Southern Trust it is only the mainly rural population of Newry Mourne and Down that will be disadvantaged.
Response to DOH Draft Budget 2025-26 Ends here.
Ways to Respond
All responses will be considered as part of the Department of Health funding decisions.
Comments on the Departments 2025-26 Draft Budget Equality Impact Assessment can be submitted by email.
Email: draftbudget25-26response@health-ni.gov.uk
By Email Message
Compose a New Message (or use pen icon)
Put Email Address: draftbudget25-26response@health-ni.gov.uk into the ‘To‘ field of the Email (Recipient)
Write an Email in the normal way – you can type your comments and copy and paste any of these suggested answers as you wish.
Give your name and ask for a reply. Click Send
Links and Background
CONSULTATION LINK
Department of Health NI Consultation: Equality Impact and Rural Needs Impact Assessment of the 2025-26 Budget Outcome – all documents available from the link below:
Information on this and other similar topics is also available at the companion Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/daisyhillforlife/ Please Follow or Like the Page to receive updates. Thank you.
DOH Hospital Network Consultation 2024-2025 – Some Suggested Responses
Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry is entitled to be an Area Hospital due to the consistently high population size, need and land mass area in Newry & District. In the Department of Health’s new public Consultation ‘Hospitals – Creating a Network for better outcomes’, Daisy Hill Acute Hospital has been put into the wrong Hospital category of ‘General Hospital’.
Public help is needed to answer through the Questionnaire to put the case forward to the Department of Health through the Public consultation process for Daisy Hill to be made an Area Hospital, like the other Area Hospitals, as it is entitled to be.
You can help by responding to this Department of Health Consultation ‘Hospitals – Creating a Network for better outcomes.’ (October 2024) (More information on the topic is explored in ‘Why This Consultation Matters’ section below.
SUGGESTED ANSWERS HELP 1 AVAILABLE HERE
Word versions of the Questionnaire with some pre-filled selected options to read or use for your own answers, (now with extra info on the Rural Needs and Equality Questions) are available to download by clicking on the Download buttons below : (File name: V3 Extra info-Questionnaire-doh -hospitals) has detailed LONGER answers.
A word version of the Questionnaire with SHORTER ANSWERS (File name ‘W shorter-questionnaire -doh-hospitals) with some pre-filled selected options to read or use for your own answers is available to download by clicking on the Download button below.
>If you use this pre-filled version you will first need to save the file to your phone/computer/device etc), Select the Save As Option, and select where you want to save it in Downloads/Documents etc.
>Then give it a new filename by adding your initials at the front/end or some other change to the standard name.
Example 1. New file name: AB questionnaire doh-hospitals-better-outcomes.
Example 2. New file name: questionnaire doh-hospitals-better-outcomesRR1
>Edit the new version by starting with Q1 to add your name and Q2 to add your Email address by typing into the Space in the Answer Boxes on the Questionnaire. This is really important so the department will count it as a real response coming from you. (There is space to add extra comments on some of the other answer boxes if you wish. )
>When you are finished Save your file again and then your version of the Questionnaire is ready. This new filename is the version you can send as an email attachment, (or for printing, if you want to post it.)
The link above is the main Consultation link from the Department of Health website for the ‘Creating a Network for better outcomes’ Consultation . It gives all documents including main report, Rural Impact and Equality Impact Assessments, Consultation Questionnaire Word document all available to download and read.
Public Consultations should be freely accessible to all – if you are unable to save or open any of the Department of Health Consultation documents in the formats provided – please contact the Department of Health using the information provided below, to let them know and see if they can offer alternative formats.
WAYS TO RESPOND TO THE CONSULTATION
There are 3 WAYS TO RESPOND to Department of Health Hospitals – Creating a Network for better outcomes Consultation proposals 2024-2025:
1>By Email > Send your completed Questionnaire by email to the Department by attaching the Consultation Questionnaire to the email address: rebuildinghsc.services@health-ni.gov.uk
2>By Online Questionnaire
Click on the Online Questionnaire link below and scroll down to and click ‘have your say’
SUGGESTED ANSWERS HELP 2 (ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE) AVAILABLE HERE
There are two versions of the Suggested Answers (ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE ) AVAILABLE
V6 (With Longer Detailed Answers)
V8 (With Shorter Answers)
You can use these two Suggested Answer Sheets (Ready Reference) Answers BELOW to help you if you need some ideas while you are filling out this online questionnaire. If you agree with the typed answer suggestions you can even copy and paste the answers in part or full. (Just download it to your device and open the file for reference)
LONGER (MORE DETAILED) SUGGESTED ANSWER SHEET FOR ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE AVAILABLE HERE:
3>By Post > A hard copy of your response Questionnaire can also be sent in Writing to:
Transformation Branch Regional Health Services Transformation Directorate Department of Health Annex 3, Castle Buildings Stormont Estate Belfast BT4 3SQ
By the Closing Date of 28th February 2025.
For Enquiries on the ‘Hospitals -Creating a Network for better outcomes’ consultation the Department of Health contact email is: rebuildinghsc.services@health-ni.gov.uk
Department of Health General Telephone number is : Telephone: 028 9052 0500
WHY THIS CONSULTATION MATTERS
In 2019, you did it – over 19, 500 people sent back consultation Reponses disagreeing with Dept of Health plans to cut the existing number of Stroke Units in NI and centralise stroke services to as few as sites as possible.
People power here worked after thousands filled in the Questionnaire with 95% rejecting the options, with concerns about longer travel times in an emergency. Following this consultation – the Health Minister Robin Swann MLA said stronger evidence was needed – so change can happen if we write in large numbers to these consultations.
In 2024/5 there is a new plan as the Department of Health now proposes to go way beyond centralising Stroke services and proposes changes to the whole Regional Hospital Network. This plan puts Hospitals in NI into four categories: Local, General, Area Hospitals and Specialist Regional Centres.
The majority of Specialist Inpatient Services for example Stroke, Emergency Surgery etc are proposed to be centralised to 5 newly chosen Area Hospitals (at Antrim, Altnagelvin, Craigavon, Ulster and Belfast Group Hospitals) and Specialist Regional Centres (at Altnagelvin, Ulster Hospital and Belfast Hospitals) (*Ref1)
In these proposals Daisy Hill Hospital (Newry); South West (Enniskillen) and Causeway (Coleraine) are to be known as ‘General Hospitals’. (Very different from the new proposed ‘Area Hospitals’)
The Government now wants to consult with you, the public who are paying for the service to see if they agree with these new proposals.
DAISY HILL HAS BEEN PUT IN THE WRONG CATEGORY OF ‘GENERAL’ HOSPITAL – BUT THIS CAN BE CHANGED IF ENOUGH PEOPLE DISAGEE WITH THE NEW PROPOSALS
As mentioned in previous posts, only 5 places have been selected to be upgraded to be higher level ‘Area Hospitals’ – they are: Craigavon, Antrim, Altnagelvin, Ulster and Belfast Group Hospitals. “These Area Hospitals will maintain a 24/7 emergency department, a 24/7 emergency surgery and anaesthetic rota and theatre, and be supported by a critical care unit.” (Consultation Doc p35/37pdf) Annex D also states Area Hospitals will be expected to have 31 specialty services with inpatient beds. (Page 106/8)
What about the General Hospitals?
Information on the limited services expected to be available from ‘General hospitals’ can be read in the Consultation document ‘Hospitals – Creating a Network for better outcomes’ from the Department of Health’s website. (See p23, 34-36, and 113)
In the document’s very important Actions page (p113, See Action 4) –it is rather concerning that the words ‘Short to Medium Term’*(Ref 2) are used when referring to maintaining core services in the ‘General Hospital’ category. And it is the Hospital Trusts who will be in charge of this.
Are core services not going to be maintained for the Long Term in the General Hospitals then? No other Hospital Category is dealt with in this way in the Actions Page.
Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry has been incorrectly put in the ‘General Hospital’ category in this new report which also falsely describes the Newry area as a small ‘isolated’ geographical location and community (*(Ref 3) See pages 6,23, 34).
The Department of Health report fails to recognise the consistently large population size, recorded illness statistics needs and large land mass area in the Newry & District area.
Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry must be given the long overdue investment and specialist inpatient services it and the rate-paying and tax paying population here deserves.
We must challenge these unfair proposals. In Health and Wellbeing 2026 Delivering Together (p19) First Minister and former Health Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA stated “Our HSC system belongs to all of us and we all bring valuable insights in to how it can improve. We must work in partnership – patients, services users, families’ staff and politicians – in doing so we co-produce lasting change which benefits us all.” *(Ref 4)
DAISY HILL HOSPITAL IS ENTITLED TO BE AN AREA HOSPITAL & NEEDS YOUR HELP – PLEASE DISAGREE WITH THE PROPOSALS
Your help is needed to answer the Consultation through the Questionnaire and let the Dept of Health know that they have put Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry into the wrong category –due to the population size, need and land mass here.
We have a right to continue to challenge, at every opportunity, these vital healthcare decisions. Pls take part in the Consultation and Strongly disagree with the proposals, stating in the Questionnaire that Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry is entitled to be and should be categorised as an ‘Area Hospital’ along with the other Area Hospitals.
Please ask everyone in your house to take part take part in this public Consultation too and pls ask your friends, family and community and Elected Representatives to do the same.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION/ REFERENCES
REFERENCES
*Ref. 1. Hospitals – Creating a Network for better outcomes. Department of Health, (October 2024). Main Consultation document, Hospital Categories (Pages – pdf pg no. p23-25)
*Ref. 2. Action 4 states that “Consideration to be given to how in the short to medium term HSC Trusts can work in collaboration to maintain these core General Hospital services.” Creating a Network for better outcomes. Department of Health, October 2024. Main Consultation document, (pdf pg no p113)
*Ref. 3 Description of General Hospitals ,In ‘Creating a Network for better outcomes’. (Department of Health, October 2024,) the word ‘isolated’ is used 3 times describing the ‘location’ and ‘community’ of the 3 named proposed ‘General hospitals’: Causeway Hospital, Daisy Hill Hospital and South West Hospital(p6,p23, p34).
P6/23 : “General Hospitals, delivering defined secondary care services including unscheduled care, geared to a specific, more ISOLATED geographical location…”
P34/ “What and Where: General Hospitals” – …… These hospitals have a key role in ensuring our system can respond to the challenges of an aging population, delivering a range of acute and rehabilitation services, with the advantage that they are closer to an otherwise more ISOLATED community.”]
*Ref. 4. Health and Wellbeing 2026 – Delivering Together – Department of Health, (October 2016.) (p19)
*Definition –‘Centralise’ “concentrate under one control” (Collins English Dictionary)
Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry City
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
WHY DAISY HILL HOSPITAL IN NEWRY IS ENTITLED TO BE AN AREA HOSPITAL:
>Reason 1 – Population fact 1: Out of 17 GP Federations in NI, Newry & District GP Federation has the 2nd highest number of patients (161,308) registered after only Derry GP Federation since 2017 (Source: DOH 2023/24).
Newry & District includes 36,018 children and young people aged U18, the 2nd highest of the 17 GP Federations after only Derry (Source: DOH 2023/24).
Reason 2 – Population fact 2: Newry & Mourne Local Government District (One of 26 Former Councils) RANKED IN THE TOP FOUR HIGHEST POPULATION CENTRES In NI after only Belfast, Derry and Lisburn. (From 1971 to 2014)
Reason 3> Population fact 3: Newry & Mourne LGD has ALWAYS HAD THE HIGHEST POPULATION of the 5 LGDS in the operational area of Southern Trust. (Source NISRA). The 5 LGDS are Newry & Mourne, Craigavon, Armagh, Dungannon and Banbridge.
Reason 4 – Landmass fact : Newry & Mourne local government district area alone has the 3RD LARGEST LANDMASS in NI (898.3 Sq Km: Source NISRA).
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.
New Shorter Suggested answers to read or use with official Department of Health ONLINE Consultation Questionnaire for ‘Hospitals – Creating a Network for Better Outcomes’
(Full Consultation Information is available from the Background / Links section at the end of the page.)
Click on the LINK below to go to the Webpage to make an Online Response to the Department of Health Public Consultation: ‘Hospitals – Creating a Network for better outcomes’
Note: You don’t have to answer the Extra Comment Questions in the ONLINE Questionnaire, you can just select the STRONGLY DISAGREE buttons etc and click Continue to go on to the next Question – but to help make the case why Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry should not be downgraded and is entitled to be made into an AREA HOSPITAL, Shorter suggested answers are available here, which can be copied and pasted onto the Questionnaire as required.
If you only give an answer explanation to one Question, please ANSWER the ONLINE Q10 (which asks what this DOH Hospital Network Consultation has missed) and please state the need that Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry is entitled to be made into an Area Hospital. (Answer Available below)
NEW SHORTER READY REFERENCE SUGGESTED ANSWERS (ONLINE )
READY REFERENCE SUGGESTED ANSWERS (ONLINE Qs 1- 19)for DOH ONLINE Consultation Questionnaire for ‘Hospitals – Creating a Network for Better Outcomes’
Questions are numbered Q.1 – Q.19 on the Online Survey Version of Questionnaire (Different no’s to the Word Document version of the Questionnaire)
ONLINE Q1. What is your name? ONLINE Q2. What is your email address? ONLINE Q3. Are you responding as an individual or on behalf of an organisation, please highlight the most relevant option:
(Choose your own answer from the list of – Member of the general public / Service user/ Family carer / Social care worker/ Social worker etc or Voluntary & Community sector option and so on.)
ONLINE Q4. If you selected ‘Other’ Please specify the name of the Organisation, Voluntary & Community sector, Private Company or Public Body:
ONLINE Q5. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the explanation within the framework of why we need to change how our hospitals function?
Answer Q5. STRONGLY DISAGREE
ONLINE Q6. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the description of the type of Northern Ireland hospitals as presented in the framework that build towards a Hospital Network? These are: Local Hospitals, Area Hospitals, General Hospitals and Regional Centres. Note: The detailed description each type of hospital is on page 4 of the consultation document.
Answer Q6 STRONGLY DISAGREE
ONLINE Q7 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the ‘core services’ identified for the different types of hospitals, especially for the area hospitals and three general hospitals?
Answer Q7. STRONGLY DISAGREE
ONLINE Q8 To what extent do you agree or disagree that the proposed list of actions identified in the framework are the correct ones to create a more sustainable hospital network in Northern Ireland?
Answer Q8. STRONGLY DISAGREE
ONLINE Q9 Taking into account the proposals set out in the framework and the answers you have provided above; do you think there is anything we have missed?
ANSWER Q9 YES
ONLINE Q.10 If your answer is Yes, please provide further detail and explanation below:
ONLINE Q. 10 ANSWER
Based on actual population data and other factors Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry should have been made into an ‘Area Hospital’ and not a ‘General Hospital.’ For example: Population Fact 1: Of the 17 GP Federations in NI, Newry & District has the 2nd highest number of patients (161,308) registered with GP Federations after only Derry, since 2017. (Source: DOH 2023/24).
This Consultation does not value the importance of the need for TIMELY access to ‘Accident & Emergency’ treatment where every minute counts (which includes for Stroke, Heart and Emergency Surgery) as well as accident victims in comparison to accessing ‘non emergency’ treatment like elective care.
ONLINE Q.11 To what extent to do you agree or disagree that the proposed list of actions in the framework will improve the experience and outcomes for service users in Northern Ireland?
Answer Q11. STRONGLY DISAGREE
ONLINE Q12. To what extent to do you agree or disagree that the framework explains how reconfiguration decisions are taken?
Answer Q12. STRONGLY DISAGREE
ONLINE Q13. To what extent do you agree or disagree that the framework explains how you will be engaged as part of the decision making process?
Answer Q13. STRONGLY DISAGREE
ONLINE Q14. Please explain the reason for your answer and provide any additional comments below – **You do not have to give an answer here unless you want to add something
ONLINE Q15.Taking into account the answers you have provided; if you have any further comments on any aspect of this framework or the proposed actions please include below.
Answer ONLINE Q15.
If the hospital network is to be changed with ‘Area Hospitals’ at the heart of the system, then based on the health needs of Newry & Mourne Area which has had a consistently high population since 1971 to present – Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry now located in the 3rd largest council in NI (Newry Mourne and Down) should be enhanced to be a ‘Area Hospital’ and maintain “a 24/7 Emergency Department, a 24/7 Emergency surgery and anaesthetic rota and theatre, and be supported by a critical care unit”.
Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry should also have secured for the LONG TERM future the same broad range of specialist inpatient services as the ‘Area Hospitals’ described in this consultation including Paediatrics and Obstetrics.
(Newry Mourne and Down Council has a current population of approx 182,634 (NISRA 2022)
Equality and Rural Needs Assessments
ONLINE Q16. A) Do you agree or disagree with the Draft Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA)?
Answer Q16: FULLY DISAGREE
ONLINE Q17. Please provide comments below:
ANSWER -ONLINE Q. 17:
I fully disagree. These proposals and mitigating actions’ are not just or fair and will not deliver ‘health care equity’ across NI. According to this Equality document, ‘Travel support’ will be needed for most of the named Equality groups to access this new hospital network, so these proposals don’t keep to Equality rules or Human Rights. Responsibilities for accessing timely ‘Emergency’ treatment (which includes Emergency surgery) services are bypassed onto other external department’s including the Department for Infrastructure (Transport ) Also ‘Good Relations’ between communities / councils across NI will not be fostered under these proposals.
There are serious concerns regarding ‘healthcare equity’ for the population in Newry Mourne and Down (NMD). Under these consultation proposals, the population of Newry Mourne and Down will NOT have timely access to 24/7 INPATIENT Emergency Care TREATMENT. The Department of Health and others have a duty of care to continue to provide a Specialist Acute Hospital in Newry, with inpatient beds, specialist inpatient Services and 24/7 Consultant Led Emergency surgery and Emergency Medical services based on a Population Needs Assessment. This will ensure equitable access to specialist Acute Hospital services for the growing population in Newry Mourne and Down LGD – the 3rd largest LGD population in NI: current population approx 182,634 (NISRA 2022).
ONLINE Q18 B) Do you agree or disagree with the Draft Rural Needs Impact Assessment?
ANSWER Q18 b) FULLY DISAGREE
ONLINE Q. 19: SUGGESTED ANSWER
I fully disagree with the Draft Rural Needs Impact Assessment as these proposals will create worse health outcomes for all rural populations. Approx 36%* population of NI live in a rural area including in Newry Mourne and Down (NISRA 2020*). As the meaning of equity is ‘something that is just and fair’, this policy will not improve ‘healthcare equity’ as it aims to do, as rural residents in NI will NOT be able to “access TIMELY, high-quality care.”
Under the 2016 Rural Needs Act, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and the Dept of Health have a duty of care to make sure the health and economic needs of the rural community are fully met and are entitled to be included, not deprived of the economic prosperity that being included in an Area hospital Network brings.
The Rural Impact document (page 4) has completely ignored the impact the proposals would have on Jobs, Employment, Education, Training, Poverty, and Deprivation in Rural Areas and Rural Development.
The location of the 5 proposed ‘Area Hospitals’ all with 24/7 Level 1 ED (Altnagelvin, Antrim, Craigavon, Belfast Hospitals Campus and Ulster Hospital) are concentrated within half hour of Belfast, and in Derry. Only the population in these urban areas will have TIMELY access to 24/7 Level 1 Consultant Led INPATIENT EMERGENCY CARE TREATMENT, the rural areas will NOT have TIMELY access.
Section 75 Equality Questions (optional) ONLINE Q 20 – 28 (These are Optional but you have to either select ‘Prefer not to say’ option or choose an answer to continue.
END OF QUESTIONS **** QUICK SUMMARY
Online Q1-4 Personal Information Online Q5-8 STRONGLY DISAGREE Online Q9. YES Online Q10 Add Comments if you want – see Suggested Answers above Online Q11-13 STRONGLY DISAGREE Online Q14 & 15. Add Comments if you want – see Suggested Answers above. Online Q16 STRONGLY DISAGREE (Equality Impact Assessment) Online Q17 Add Comments if you want – see Suggested Answers above. Online Q18 STRONGLY DISAGREE (Rural Needs Impact Assessment) Online Q19 Add Comments if you want – see Suggested Answers above.
ONLINE Q 20 – 28Section 75 Equality Questions (optional) 20. Religious belief 21. Political opinion 22. Race 23.Gender 24.Marital status 25. Age bracket 26. Disability 27. Dependants 28. Sexual Orientation
(These are Optional but you have to either Select your answers for these or select ‘Prefer not to say’ option to continue.
END OF QUICK SUMMARY
The Consultation Closes on Friday 28th February at 5pm.
BACKGROUND / LINKS
LINK ********DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ONLINE CONSULTATION LINK – CLICK BELOW
The link below is the main Consultation link from the Department of Health website for the ‘Creating a Network for better outcomes’ Consultation . It gives all documents including main report, Rural Impact and Equality Impact Assessments, Consultation Questionnaire Word document all available to download and read.
For your convenience, these Answers in this article can be read by downloading a handy Ready Ref Sheet – Word Document ‘V8 Shorter Ready Ref Answers Sheet for ONLINE Q’s DOH’ file below.
For people who prefer to Email a seperate copy of the Questionnaire via Email – an updated version of the Full Questionnaire is available to download below. (You will need to add your own Answers to the Personal Details Questions at the beginning – please see further reading for more info)
ALTERNATIVE MICROSOFT WORD VERSION of Full Questionnaire (Prefilled – Short Answers) for Emailing
For more Information about this Consultation and How to Take Part – see links below.
Thank you. Please Share if you think this will help someone else take part in this very important Consultation for the future of Daisy Hill Hospital and its dedicated staff.
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.
DAISY HILL HOSPITAL NEWRY IS ENTITLED TO BE CATEGORISED AS AN AREA HOSPITAL – FACTS FROM GP REGISTERS
The case for RETAINING not WITHDRAWING specialist Acute Services and 24 /7 Consultant Led Emergency Services in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City is very strong and evidence based.
This is why these Emergency and Specialist Acute services were always in Daisy Hill in the first place as recognised in 2003 under Developing Better Services Hospital Network Consultation when Daisy Hill was designated as one of 9 Acute Hospitals, of equal status, with 24/7 Consultant Led Emergency Surgical, Emergency Medical, and 24/7 Consultant- led Maternity Services.
But now it seems the case must be made again in the ongoing Department of Health Consultation “Hospitals – Creating a Network for Better Outcomes’, – Why?
Because the Dept of Health, by downgrading Daisy Hill Acute Hospital has failed to recognise the health needs of Newry & District’s* large population size (which covers Newry, South Down and South Armagh areas), failed to take into account the strategic location of Newry and is proposing to make Daisy Hill into a General Hospital with limited services.
This CAN and must be challenged though the Public Consultation process by answering the questionnaire and promoting the need, without delay, for an Area Hospital in Newry.
This is the latest in a series of posts which aims to explain each of the reasons in turn which can be used for people taking part in the written consultation, who can disagree with conviction on the Dept. Of Health proposal for Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry to be demoted into a General Hospital with limited services, and for the public to call instead for an Area Hospital in Newry.
An Area Hospital is needed to give the vast population of adults and children here (especially those who live in rural areas) timely equity of access to inpatient Emergency and Acute hospital services. Details on the Consultation and different categories of Hospital proposed are available from the DOH Website and from Daisy Hill for life website (See link at end)
>THERE ARE 161,308 PEOPLE ON DOCTORS REGISTERS IN NEWRY AND DISTRICT GP FEDERATION (DOH May 2024)
There are currently 17 GP Federations covering all areas of NI. One of their aims is to help deliver the Transformation Agenda in Health and Social Care. There are 29 Registered GP Practices in Newry & District GP Federation, covering Newry, South Down and South Armagh areas.
Newry & District GP Federation includes GP practices in Kilkeel, Crossmaglen, Annalong, Rathfriland, Killeavy, Newtownhamilton, Mullaghbawn, Bessbrook, Warrenpoint as well as Newry.
Out of the 17 GP federations in NI – Newry & District GP Federation has the second highest (161,308) number of registered patients (after only Derry GP Federation) since 2017 (Source: DOH 2023/24).
POPULATION HEALTH NEEDS IN NEWRY & DISTRICT – SERIOUS HEALTH CONDITIONS ARE WIDESPREAD
As well as the large population size, a second important reason, as shown in the picture/graphic is that many people living in Newry & District have a high incidence of serious health needs or health conditions including Heart Failure and Stroke, Coronary Heart Disease, Cancer, Atrial Fibrillation, Hypertension and Kidney Disease. Many of these patients need and are entitled to have equitable timely access to 24/7 Consultant-Led Emergency Surgery and Emergency Medical Care, High Dependency Care and Specialist Acute Inpatient Hospital care in Daisy Hill Hospital.
Data showing 15 health conditions on GP Registers in Newry & District show the vital need for Daisy Hill, Newry to be categorised as an Area Hospital with a 24/7 Level 1 ED as part of the proposed Regional network of hospitals. (Note: all 17 GP Federations have records for the same 15 health conditions*.)
An Area Hospital with 24/7 Level 1 ED at Daisy Hill in Newry is vital to ensure better outcomes for survival and recovery of patients as well as giving timely equity of access also for other health conditions and in Emergency situations that may arise.
As shown in the graphic –in 2024 These GP Registers show that of 15 health conditions (recorded by all GP Federations*) Newry & District GP Federation has:
>*THE HIGHEST number. of patients with Heart Failure, Heart Failure due to Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction and Non- Diabetic Hyperglycaemia.
>*THE 3RD HIGHEST number of Patients with Coronary Heart Disease, Cancer, Atrial Fibrillation, Hypertension and Asthma (after only Derry and East Antrim).
>*THE 4TH HIGHEST number of Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease, Stroke, Diabetes and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
CONCLUSION
Of 17 GP Federations in NI – Newry & District GP Federation (covering Newry, South Down and South Armagh area) has the SECOND HIGHEST number of patients registered with GP Practices in NI since 2017 (161,308 patients ) with many patients having serious health needs.
If the Department of Health had used a Population Health Needs Assessment (at Trust/Local Commissioning Group level), with data on illnesses/conditions taken from the 17 GP Federations including Newry & District GP Federation, the DoH would have acknowledged that Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry was entitled to be categorised as an Area Hospital.
PLEASE TAKE PART IN THE CONSULTATION
Please reply to DOH Hospital Network Consultation 2025 proposals and make the case for vital need for DAISY HILL AREA HOSPITAL.
Full information on the Consultation, and some Suggested answers to the Questionnaire are available from the LINK below:
Please Share this post if you can, to spread the word. Thank you.
BACKGROUND/ LARGE POPULATION SIZE IN NEWRY & DISTRICT
Newry & District GP patient register includes 36,018 children and young people aged U18, the 2nd highest of the 17 GP Federations after only Derry (Source: DOH 2023/24).
*(Source DOH: published May 2024)
ENDS
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.
Daisy Hill Hospital for Life 