Tag Archives: Cloughoge

08.02.17
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Balanced Representation for Newry and Mourne population essential before Daisy Hill Hospital ED Pathfinder discussions

Balanced Representation for the population of Newry & Mourne is essential – before any initial Daisy Hill Hospital Pathfinder discussions on future Consultant led 24/7 Emergency Services and Acute services in Newry City.

 After initial inspection of the membership of the Pathfinder Project Group from the documents – we assert that it is unfairly balanced in favour of the Southern Trust (SHSCT)/Board management in overall membership. (See PIE CHART 1)

Initial suggested membership of Daisy Hill Hospital Emergency Department Pathfinder Group is unfairly balanced in favour of the Southern Trust and Health Board management

REDRESS THE BALANCE

To redress the planning and decision making balance, we are suggesting some immediate changes to the make-up of this Pathfinder Group before any community involvement is even considered, to ensure a level playing field with equal voting rights. This will ensure that community involvement is meaningful and actually impacts upon the decision making and is not merely a box ticking exercise.

NEED FOR EQUAL REPRESENTATION

As the Southern Trust Management feel they are entitled to choose 13 members including the Chair, we are also entitled to choose an EQUAL number of members representing the community of patients, service users, families, staff and politicians, from the Newry, Mourne and South Armagh Locality. (See PIE CHART 2)

Redress the balance of Daisy Hill Hospital Emergency Department Pathfinder Group with an equal number of members representing the community of patients, service users, families, staff and politicians, from the Newry, Mourne and South Armagh Locality

We need to make sure that this is a proper forum and not just a communications pilot exercise by the Southern Trust in their attempt to implement the criteria from the Bengoa Report and the Transformation Implementation Group’s agenda.

There is a responsibility on all sides to ensure the community’s views are gathered, recorded and represented fairly.

CONCLUSION

In view of the seriousness of the threat of change / withdrawal of life-saving ACUTE AND EMERGENCY Services for both children and adults; we are entitled to full consultation and fair representation on the Daisy Hill Hospital Pathfinder Group as shown in Pie Chart 2. The Pathfinder Group is also known as the ‘SHSCT Task and Finish Group.’

Why have we not been given a level playing field in voting rights and a proper consultation?  We need to be assured of equal voting rights and proper consultation immediately.

This is not an ‘exciting project’ for us – we are the people who will bear the brunt of the removal of ED services which deals with all life threatening Emergencies WHERE EVERY MINUTE COUNTS. The present and future lives and outcomes of everyone who needs ACUTE and ED Services in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital are worth fighting for.

We should not have to fight to get Acute & ED services which we have paid for, and is our right.

Background info:

Project Name: Daisy Hill Hospital Emergency Department Pathfinder Project With Identification of Regional Learning.

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. Excerpts and links may be used, 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

07.26.17
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DAISY HILL HOSPITAL ED PATHFINDER PROJECT – PROPOSALS 1

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

The people of Newry & Mourne have been invited to take part in Daisy Hill Hospital Emergency Pathfinder meetings with Dr Anne-Marie Telford to discuss how they can work with the Southern Trust:

“to develop a long term plan which will stabilise, safeguard and sustain local emergency care services.” 

We have some thoughts and proposals on this for you to consider – Are these meetings, instead of just being about the Emergency Department – also part of a verbal consultation by the Southern Trust and Health and Social Care Board that starts us on the Bengoa Report Reform, which includes the further change/withdrawal of services, without telling us?

It seems likely, as the Bengoa Report places Emergency & urgent care as Priority 1 : in most need of reform.

In this post we would like to suggest some questions which need answers, and put forward proposals for readers to consider. We think the proposals could be a good starting point to help tackle this concern.

hospital corridor

 

WHAT WILL THE COMMUNITY GAIN FROM TAKING PART IN THE PATHFINDER PROJECT?

What difference will these August meetings make to secure PERMANENT, LONG TERM Consultant- led 24/7 EMERGENCY & ACUTE services in Newry, Mourne and South Armagh Area Acute Hospital – Daisy Hill?

We request that the Southern Trust and Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) explain urgently to the public exactly what they are asking us to support by participating in the Pathfinder Project.  As it is not clear, we request the SHSCT and HSCB to publicly tell us what’s in it for us and WHAT IS AT STAKE before they ask us to participate in individual interviews with Dr Telford.

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

Proposals to help deal with the unanswered questions

WHAT WE CALL FOR:  (PROPOSAL 1)

(1) The Health Board/Trust /Public Health Authority host a PUBLIC MEETING in Newry City with the following agenda:

(a) To inform the public the clear purpose of the Pathfinder Project

(b) To give a clear explanation on exactly which services are being ‘changed or withdrawn’ from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital.

(c) Explain what progress the SHSCT recruitment team have made to date, with regard to recruitment for Daisy Hill Emergency Department.

(d) Tell us what Questions will be asked in the verbal interviews with Dr Anne-Marie Telford.

WHAT WE CALL FOR:  (PROPOSAL 2)

(2) We would like A FULL WRITTEN CONSULTATION (as part of the first 20 weeks of the Pathfinder Project) so we can make an informed decision before participating.

The 2 Proposals explained

(1) PUBLIC MEETING, hosted by the Health and Social Care Board/ Public Health Authority/ Southern Trust,  required to be held in Newry City to address and answer the following 4 important Questions.

(1a)What is the PURPOSE of the Pathfinder Project?

Before we consider participation in the Pathfinder Project – it would be mutually beneficial if the Southern Trust (SHSCT), Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) and Public Health Authority hold a public meeting in Newry City (in a suitable large venue) where they can openly explain to the wider public, hospital staff and Unions exactly what is the clear purpose of the Pathfinder Project. This is an opportunity for the SHSCT and HSCB to explain to the public their future long term plans for Newry Mourne and South Armagh Area Acute Hospital – Daisy Hill.

(1B) WHICH DAISY HILL ACUTE HOSPITAL SERVICES WILL BE AFFECTED?

Rather than using the blanket terms of ‘Acute and Emergency services’ in the Pathfinder Project Documents – we request that the Southern Trust and HSCB explain to us in plain language and define exactly which ‘ACUTE AND EMERGENCY CARE’ services in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital will be affected and will they be  changed or withdrawn?

Does the term ‘unscheduled care needs’ or ‘Acute and Emergency Care ’ mean all  scenarios including  children’s emergency, emergency surgery, stroke, heart, unavoidable accidents (work, school, home  and sporting accidents)? Does this also include emergency treatment for car accident victims and emergency caesareans where there is only 30 minutes to save the life of mother and baby? Under EU directives there must be a functioning hospital for mothers and babies. In addition – what ACUTE SERVICES are being affected?

What progress have the Southern Trust recruitment team made to date recruiting for Daisy Hill Emergency department?

(1C) WHAT PROGRESS HAVE THE RECRUITMENT TEAM MADE?

As the original issue publicly reported by the Southern Trust was RECRUITMENT of medical staff for DHH at night in the Summer months – At this public meeting we need to see the continued detailed efforts of the SHSCT Recruitment Team in finding medical staff for Daisy Hill ACUTE HOSPITAL. This must include the detailed job adverts for Craigavon Hospital as well as for Daisy Hill Hospital.

1 (d) We would also like the public meeting to advise us what Questions will be asked in the verbal meetings with Dr Anne-Marie Telford and how will this information be recorded/collated? How will this information be reported back to the Pathfinder group? What impact will it have?

(2) WE REQUEST A FULL WRITTEN CONSULTATION, and not just a verbal consultation

– a written consultation is our right under ‘Change or Withdrawal’ of services. While some may welcome the opportunity to attend a face to face consultation, not everyone will be able, or available to attend the meetings so there must be a written option too.

As part of ‘meaningful consultation’ – Under the 2009 Act on ‘change or withdrawal of services’ – we are entitled to 3 months WRITTEN PUBLIC CONSULTATION so we can make an informed decision BEFORE we participate in the Pathfinder Project. This written consultation must be included as part of the first 20 week period – as a ‘final decision’ is being made after 20 weeks. We need to know what impact will this ‘final decision’ have on ‘acute and emergency care services’ in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City?

As part of this consultation document the Southern Trust and the HSCB should tell us in writing, exactly what service change they are planning and why, in clear terms.

We require a full written consultation for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital Emergency Pathfinder Project

A comparison with the Consultation into the Belfast Trust’s change in Adult Emergency Department services

This WRITTEN CONSULTATION must include OPTIONS for possible reconfiguration of services as was undertaken by the HSCB Board for withdrawal of Adult Emergency services in the urban areas of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust when ED services were only being moved (approx 1.2 miles down the road) from the City Hospital to the Royal. It is vital to note that in the Belfast consultation, the children’s emergency services were not threatened with closure. The HSCB Consultation in Belfast included detailed written explanation for the public.

Newry & Mourne, as the largest locality in the Southern Trust should have the same written public consultation as the population of the Belfast Trust – now- at the start of this 80 week project for the public to be meaningful involved from the start.

CONCLUSION

The united community of Newry and Mourne works together for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital

CALL TO ACTION: If you agree with these proposals/ideas:

Please write to the Chairperson/Mayor of Newry, Mourne & Down Council; Councillor Roisin Mulgrew and also to all our MPs, MLAs and Councillors who represent us, and ask for the following:

  1.  A PUBLIC MEETING hosted by the Health and Social Care Board/ Public Health Authority/ Southern Trust in Newry City addressing the 4 points in this post above.
  2. A written public consultation to accompany the Pathfinder Project in addition to the verbal meetings.

REFERENCES & CONTACT INFO for public representatives:

Newry Mourne & Down Council

Mayor of Newry, Mourne & Down Council; Councillor Roisin Mulgrew

By Post: Newry, Mourne & Down Council, Monaghan Row, Newry, BT35 8DJ, Northern Ireland.
By Email: roisin.mulgrew@nmandd.org
Newry, Mourne and Down Council Telephone: 0300 013 2233

Chief Executive; Mr Liam Hannaway at the same address or by email, care of: info@nmandd.org

Elected members (Councillors) :

http://www.newrymournedown.org/elected_members

MLAs; MP; MEPs

A List of our MLAs and MP, MEPs is available to view at: Write to them website

Newry & Armagh MLAs

Contact info: http://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/mlas/contacts.aspx

From this page, Filter by Constituency > Newry & Armagh

Then select Address> Constituency Offices for local contact addresses for MLAs.

Please EMAIL your councillors MLAs and MPs to support Daisy Hill Acute Hospital

Thank you for reading this post. Please share the proposals if you agree. We must all stay united and continue to support Daisy Hill Acute Hospital and its wonderful dedicated staff.

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 the sharing of excerpts and links, provided that full and clear credit is given to http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com and Daisy Hill for Life with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank-you!

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

01.22.17
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Evidence – what Evidence?

The word ‘evidence’ is used a lot in the Bengoa Report and this word alone tries to justify taking acute Specialist Stroke Services from Daisy Hill to offer them only in Craigavon. But the actual ‘evidence’ is NOT PROVIDED in either the Bengoa Report, or the Criteria document, nor is there a list of References WHERE the evidence came from, at the back of either the Report or the Executive Summary, as you would expect in any piece of scholarly work. The Bengoa Report (Systems not Structures – Changing Health and Social Care – Full Report can be read here.

Re change in specialist stroke services in the Southern Trust, What is the evidence? Has it been validated? Who provided the evidence? These 3 Q'S need answers to verify the ‘evidence’ on outcomes for Criteria No 1 in the Consultation on criteria for reconfiguring HSC services

These 3 Q’S need answers to verify the ‘evidence’ on outcomes for Criteria No 1 on the consultation on criteria for reconfiguring HSC services

The Bengoa Report states the case for change must be “fully evidenced”. It also states how this must be done:

“Clinicians must identify the evidence for change, managers must ensure the correct processes are followed, and the Minister, supported by the executive, must act quickly to take the final decision. All three groups will need to be prepared to defend the decision publicly.”

Therefore – we think the Questions shown in the picture need to be asked and we are entitled to answers.

Without these answers – the use of the word evidence alone is NULL and VOID. Given the whole of the criteria are based on ‘evidence’ and must be addressed urgently (Recommendation 13) – The Public who are paying for the services need to know WHAT IS THIS EVIDENCE before such services changes by centralisation of services are made across N Ireland including specialist Stroke Services and A&E.

BE AWARE! – there is no doubt that agreeing to the criteria will be the first step in AGREEING to centralisation ( or otherwise known as “rationalization”) of many specialist services from Daisy Hill Hospital as shown below in the extracts from the Bengoa Expert Panel Report, 2016, page 75-76

“Based on the evidence the panel has received, the specialties that are currently in most need of reform would seem to be:
Priority 1
EMERGENCY & URGENT CARE, STROKE SERVICES, PRIMARY CARE INCLUDING GP OUT OF HOURS, GENERAL SURGERY, PATHOLOGY, VASCULAR

Priority 2
PAEDIATRICS, PALLIATIVE CARE, OBSTETRICS, RADIOLOGY, NEONATAL SERVICES, TRAUMA,
UROLOGY, REHABILITATION, COMMUNITY BASED ELDERLY CARE, BREAST SERVICES

RECOMMENDATION 13
The Panel recommends that the Department should formally endorse the criteria and apply them to five services each year to set out the future configuration of services to be commissioned (or not) from the Accountable Care Systems. If applying the criteria leads to the conclusion that the service is vulnerable, plans for reconfiguration should be developed and actioned within this twelve month period.”

(Source: Bengoa Expert Panel Report, 2016, page 75-76)

It should also be noted that the Dept. of Health was very clear at the first meeting on 16th January that they want us to ‘have our say’ on only the Criteria, but as this criteria comes directly from the Bengoa Report – it is NOT possible to separate the two even though it would be convenient for them for us to do so.

Health Minister Michelle O’Neill has extended the period of consultation on the criteria for reconfiguring health and social care services by a further two weeks at the request of the public. Speaking about the decision to extend the period of consultation the Minister Michelle O’Neill said:

“The views of the public are vital in bringing forward change and I want to ensure that as many as possible get the opportunity to put their views forward. The meetings provide a real opportunity for the public to engage directly with senior professional medical, nursing and policy staff from the Department of Health.  These criteria will be instrumental in shaping change across HSC and it is critical we get it right.

“I would like to assure the public that full consideration will be given to the views expressed as part of this process in determining the way forward.”

As we have been invited to ask Q’s at the second Dept of Health meeting on Monday 30th January, Newry, Canal Court Hotel,  7 pm – 9 pm, it is VITAL we use this opportunity to ask the 3 Q’S as stated in the picture – as the answers are needed to verify the ‘evidence’ on outcomes for Criteria No 1.

Thank-you to all who continue to speak up and show support for Daisy Hill Hospital to keep it for future generations.

© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2017. Excerpts and links may be used, 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.

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

09.09.15
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3 Ways to use the sample Response letter to respond to the Strategic Plan

Show your support again for Daisy Hill Hospital

Rally for Daisy Hill Hospital

Every person in the house can send a separate letter or email, the more the better to get the message through loud and clear to The Southern Trust that we don’t agree with their Strategic Plan to centralise services from Daisy Hill to Craigavon. Please write to them with your views but if you’re not sure what to write – you can use the sample wording, if you wish. It’s available to view and download as a word document ‘Response Letter’ from this link. RESPONSE LETTER suggested wording -to download

THREE DIFFERENT WAYS TO RESPOND

(We’ve included some hints for those not familiar with using computers or emails)

1. PRINT out the letter,

  • and write your name and address in PEN on the letter and post it with a first class stamp.
  • Postal address to: Mrs Paula Clarke, Interim Chief Executive, C/O Corporate Planning Department, The Brackens, Craigavon Area Hospital, 68 Lurgan Road, Portadown, BT63 5QQ (Last day to post 1st class Wed 9th Sept)

OR
2. EMAIL your Response by adding the text as email message text only.

  • by Sending a New Message from your email address to strategic.plan@southerntrust.hscni.net and Copy and Paste all the word document ‘Response letter’ (Use Edit – Select All and Paste into the blank message field of your email. (Its usually a large white box)
  • Then add a cc copy to: Enquiry.hscb@hscni.net (the all over Health board.)
  • Add your Name and Address within the Email text in the message field
  • Click Send!

OR
3. EMAIL Response by sending the word document ‘Response letter’ as a separate ATTACHMENT.

  • (How – Save this word document ‘Response letter’ onto your computer, then type your name and address at the bottom of the letter, and Save a new copy to your computer.
  • Compose a new email and add strategic.plan@southerntrust.hscni.net to the To field and Attach the New signed response letter as an attachment (using the paperclip Icon)
  • Then add a cc copy to Enquiry.hscb@hscni.net (the all-over Health board).
  • Click Send!

Note: Emails must be sent by this Fri. 11th Sept, If you have problems with email sending. Check the Email address and make sure it’s not a hyperlink (These are blue and underlined) If it IS, remove the hyperlink (by Right clicking mouse and selecting remove hyperlink) or try typing the email address in again and retrying the message.

Thank you all for supporting Daisy Hill.  As a community we are strong.

Save daisy Hill Hospital for life

Please Speak up for Daisy Hill and tell the Southern Trust you do not agree with their Strategic Plan to centralise hospital services from Daisy Hill, Newry city to Craigavon.

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

07.17.15
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Urgent! hospital planning Applications for Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry; and Craigavon are on NI Planning portal to view

Act Now for Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry

Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry & Craigavon Hospital, Portadown Plans on NI planning Portal

Important hospital planning news: One refurbished ward for Daisy Hill, Newry and a new stand-alone Paediatric Unit in Craigavon – the start of Craigavon’s NEW HOSPITAL master-plan.

Southern Health Trust’s proposed plan for Craigavon’s new hospital and centralised children’s hospital services in Newry & Mourne, Armagh, Dungannon, South Tyrone, Banbridge and Craigavon is now at Planning Stage. Todd Architect’s proposed plan states: “The new stand-alone paediatric unit is the first building project in a proposed phased MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT for the Craigavon HOSPITAL SITE.. positioned as a gateway to the NEW HOSPITAL future entrance.”

Daisy Hill Hospital has been announced in the press as a proposed new Centre of excellence for Children but a comparison of the two Plans reveal that Daisy Hill is proposed a 19 bed re-development of the existing stroke ward on Level 6 to change to a children’s ward – while Craigavon Plan proposes a new stand-alone building with a Paediatric Unit with 5 consultants offices and more.

View these Planning Proposals at ni.planning.gov.uk Planning portal
This portal is sometimes hard to search – For faster direct access to plans portal ignore Ref number etc and Search using >Application details tab then select Ward = Ballybot for Daisy Hill and select Ward = Kernan for Craigavon.
Planning applications including: a detailed description, plans, maps and drawings are available to view on the Planning NI Web Portal www.planningni.gov.uk or at the Local Area Planning Office or by contacting NI Direct on 0300 200 7830. Written comments should be submitted before 24th July. Please quote the application number in any correspondence and note that all representations made, including objections, will be posted on the Planning NI Web Portal

© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2017. We welcome sharing this info and the use of Excerpts and links, provided that full and clear credit is given to http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com and Daisy Hill for Life with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank-you!