Tag Archives: Craigavon Hospital

07.27.25
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DAISY HILL HOSPITAL, NEWRY NEEDS TIMELY EMERGENCY SURGERY!

Last week the campaign run by the people of Fermanagh & South Tyrone to retain Emergency Surgery at the South West Acute Hospital (Enniskillen)  has been headline news. The Health Minister Mr Mike Nesbitt MLA must be commended for listening to the people and ensuring correct procedure is followed by halting the current consultation.

The people of Newry, Mourne and Down also need access to TIMELY Emergency Surgery at Daisy Hill in Newry, and fairness and correct procedure must be adhered to here also, as the people of Newry, Mourne and Down deserve the same dignity as the rest of the people living in NI.

Daisy Hill in Newry City is (or was) the ONLY designated Acute Hospital providing access to CONSULTANT LED TIMELY life saving Emergency Surgery and Emergency Medical Care for the population of the 2 constituencies of Newry/Armagh and South Down. Population 235,877 with 60,327 under 18’s (NISRA 2020).

Because of the large Population it serves and the large land mass size, Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry was designated as one of a Network of only nine Acute Hospitals in NI, after a DoH Regional Consultation. All of these nine hospitals EDs are vital to ensure timely access to 24/7 Emergency Surgical and Emergency Medical Services WITHIN ONE HOUR, to the entire population of NI no matter where they choose to live.

However, the previous Southern Trust management unfairly broke up the Regional Network of time reliant Emergency Surgery and Emergency Medical Services by proposing in April 2023 to provide Emergency Surgery only in Craigavon Hospital. This meant then the removal of timely life saving Emergency Surgery, and its specialist clinical staff from Newry City’s Specialist Acute Hospital, Daisy Hill.

The people and Newry, Mourne and Down Council were against this proposal – but the Southern Trust still went ahead. The Permanent Secretary of DoH agreed to PERMANENTLY withdraw Emergency Surgery from Daisy Hill, and announced this on 8 January 2024, without a Regional Public Consultation and when the Executive /Assembly was not in place.

>The Dept. of Health recorded this in its Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24: ‘The permanent closure of the Emergency General Surgery service at the Daisy Hill Hospital site following a comprehensive consultation process in January 2024. A new service for all Southern patients is now fully operational in Craigavon Area Hospital with new inter-Trust and NIAS pathways to manage the demand from the Newry/Mourne population.”

Despite what is written in the Annual Report, there was NOT ‘comprehensive consultation’. Emergency surgery like heart and stroke is a Regional service and there must be a Regional consultation. There was no Regional Consultation.

The Southern Trust questionnaire asked : ‘Do you agree with the proposal to provide Emergency General Surgery Services on the Craigavon Area Hospital site 24 hours per day 7 days per week? It did not state they would withdraw Emergency Surgery from Daisy Hill in the questionnaire.

This was a local Trust ‘consultation’ and not appropriate for life saving Regional Services like Emergency Surgery. In this local Trust ‘consultation’ – 94% of people said NO. The Trust received 11,377 responses including a questionnaire completed by the ‘Save Our Emergency Surgery at Daisy Hill Hospital’ group, endorsed by 11,053 people, NOT IN AGREEMENT with the Southern Trust proposal.

>REGIONAL SERVICES MUST BE PLANNED, MANAGED AND DELIVERED ON A REGIONAL BASIS.

The point must be made again -Emergency surgery like heart and stroke is a Regional service and there must be a REGIONAL consultation.

The Dept. of Health’s own Annual Report, writes that under the principles of Health and Wellbeing 2026: Delivering Together :

“This will empower local providers and communities to plan integrated continuous care based on the needs of their population, with specialised and regional services planned, managed and delivered ON A REGIONAL BASIS.” (DoH Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 pg7)

This matter is not closed for the people of Newry, Mourne and Down, just like the people of Fermanagh and South Tyrone asking for fair play, equality and campaigning to retain Emergency Surgery in South West Hospital, the people also need access to Emergency Surgery at Daisy Hill in Newry because it saves lives and we deserve the same dignity as the rest of the people living here.

The people of Newry Mourne and Down ask for fairness from the current Health Minster and Department of Health. A proper REGIONAL Consultation is needed. This will ensure correct procedure is followed and will properly address the issue of access to Emergency Surgery across the whole network of 9 acute hospitals including Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in Newry , Mourne and Down and South West acute in Fermanagh and South Tyrone.

TIMELY Emergency Surgery saves lives!
REFERENCES

> Dept. of Health Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24 for year end 31 March 2024 (p 10 pdf)
> Dept. of Health Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23 (p 7 pdf)
>Provision of Emergency General Surgery In The Southern Health And Social Care Trust – Public Consultation Feedback Report September 2023.

Important Further Reading on Emergency Surgery follows (Written 9th March 2024)

DECLINE BY DESIGN: General Surgery Inpatient Beds Systematically Cut from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry from 2007 to 2023

Department of Health NI information shows that the number of Beds (for both Emergency and Planned General Surgery) in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry were SYSTEMATICALLY CUT from 2007-2023.

The reduction of these beds resulted in a huge decline in the number of Emergency General Surgery Inpatients who were treated in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in Newry.

This is vitally important because the Department of Health are using the reason “Lower patient numbers” (or volumes) as a key reason why Health Trusts are unable to recruit or retain consultants and as justification for permanent removal of services from Acute Hospitals and in this case – Emergency General Surgery from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in Newry.

Decline by Design - General Surgery Inpatient Beds Systematically Cut from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry from 2007 to 2023.

As shown in the Department of Health statement published 08 Jan 2024, from Permanent Secretary Mr Peter May: “When hospitals have lower patient numbers, this can create significant issues for professionals working in key specialties. These include rota/on-call pressures inherent in smaller clinical teams, as well as insufficient case mix to support specialisation, training and skill development. These issues inevitably have consequences for recruitment and retention.” (Ref 1)

The Permanent Secretary Mr Peter May’s statement shows that he agreed with the Local Southern Trust’s decision to permanently withdraw all Emergency General Surgery from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry to Craigavon, and believed what he was told that Daisy Hill had low patient numbers needing Emergency General Surgery.

But, as the final row in the picture table shows, while Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry had only 3 inpatients recorded for the whole year 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2023, this low number of inpatients was while the number of available beds in the Hospital had been REDUCED to only 8.6 beds to admit anyone needing either Emergency or planned General Surgery.

The numbers of inpatients for emergency surgery dropped because the number of emergency and planned surgery beds had been deliberately reduced.

NUMBER OF BEDS TRACKED FROM 2007-2023

Southern Trust took over Management of Daisy Hill Acute Hospital on 1st April 2007.

For the year 1st April 2006 – 31st March 2007, Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry had 49.5 Inpatient beds (for Emergency and planned General Surgery) and 3,432 Emergency General Surgery inpatients

(For the same year Craigavon Hospital had 97 inpatient beds (for Emergency and planned General Surgery) and 3,540 Emergency General Surgery inpatients).

Fast forward to the year (1st April 2022 – 31st March 2023): Daisy Hill Acute Hospital , Newry had plummeted to 8.6 Inpatient beds (for Emergency and planned General Surgery) with only 3 Emergency General Surgery inpatients recorded for the whole year.

The table diagram showing official DOH statistics proves that there was a Decline by Design – and General Surgery Inpatient Beds (for Emergency and planned Surgery) were systematically Cut from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry from 2007 to 2023.

CONCLUSION

The Southern Trust were given the function, under the 2006 Establishment Order to provide accommodation and services in Hospitals in Newry, Craigavon, Armagh, and Dungannon to ensure equal access to hospital services to everyone no matter where they lived in the former Local Government Districts of Newry & Mourne, Craigavon, Armagh, Dungannon, and Banbridge.

But although the Southern Trust Establishment Order clearly states the Southern Trust have a duty to “PROVIDE ” not “DEPRIVE” access to Accommodation and Services in Daisy Hill, Newry, they have not done so, as the falling number of available inpatient Beds in Daisy Hill, Newry for General Surgery over time can be seen in the accompanying table picture.

All Emergency Services, including Fire and Ambulance are Regional Services and as such cannot be changed or withdrawn without going through Regional Public Consultation, where decisions can be challenged by the public who are paying for the service – (not just at local level by the Southern Trust).

The final decision will then rest with the Health Minister after a REGIONAL CONSULTATION which must include Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in Newry.

BACKGROUND

Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry, along with 8 other hospitals in NI was designated as an Acute Hospital with 24/7 Consultant Led Emergency Surgery, Emergency Medical, and Maternity Services since 2003.


>In 2006/07 DHH had 49.5 inpatient beds for General Surgery ( Emergency & planned ) with 3,432 Emergency General Surgery Inpatients.
>In the year 2009/10*: DHH had 48.8 inpatient beds for General Surgery (Emergency & planned) with 3,036 Emergency General Surgery Inpatients.(see picture: 2009/10)


>By the year 20018/19*: DHH had dropped to 27.5 General Surgery inpatient beds (for Emergency & planned Surgery ) with 2,204 Emergency General Surgery Inpatients.


> But by the year 2022/23* (when the General Surgery Speciality had been ‘temporarily removed’ ) Daisy Hill Acute Hospital General Surgery Inpatient bed numbers (for Emergency & planned surgery) plummeted to only 8.6 inpatient beds with only 3 Emergency General Surgery inpatients recorded. (see picture)

REFERENCES

Ref 1 https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/…/doh-approves-permanent… – Permanent Secretary Peter May statement (08 Jan 2024 DOH)

Link to SHSCT Establishment Order 2006

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2006/294/contents/made

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

Establishment Order Trust 2006 nisr_20060294_enDownload
Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry City –the Acute Area Hospital for Newry & Mourne, South Armagh
Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City.

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.

Please also see the related post : ‘Emergency Surgery – the Have and the Have Nots’ : https://savedaisyhillhospital.com/2025/05/24/emergency-surgery-the-haves-and-the-have-nots-n-ireland

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© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2025. 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.

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

05.27.25
by

DECLINE BY DESIGN: General Surgery Inpatient Beds Systematically Cut from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry from 2007 to 2023

Department of Health NI information shows that the number of Beds (for both Emergency and Planned General Surgery) in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry were SYSTEMATICALLY CUT from 2007-2023.

The reduction of these beds resulted in a huge decline in the number of Emergency General Surgery Inpatients who were treated in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in Newry.

This is vitally important because the Department of Health are using the reason “Lower patient numbers” (or volumes) as a key reason why Health Trusts are unable to recruit or retain consultants and as justification for permanent removal of services from Acute Hospitals and in this case – Emergency General Surgery from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in Newry.

Decline by Design - General Surgery Inpatient Beds Systematically Cut from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry from 2007 to 2023.

As shown in the Department of Health statement published 08 Jan 2024, from Permanent Secretary Mr Peter May: “When hospitals have lower patient numbers, this can create significant issues for professionals working in key specialties. These include rota/on-call pressures inherent in smaller clinical teams, as well as insufficient case mix to support specialisation, training and skill development. These issues inevitably have consequences for recruitment and retention.” (Ref 1)

The Permanent Secretary Mr Peter May’s statement shows that he agreed with the Local Southern Trust’s decision to permanently withdraw all Emergency General Surgery from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry to Craigavon, and believed what he was told that Daisy Hill had low patient numbers needing Emergency General Surgery.

But, as the final row in the picture table shows, while Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry had only 3 inpatients recorded for the whole year 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2023, this low number of inpatients was while the number of available beds in the Hospital had been REDUCED to only 8.6 beds to admit anyone needing either Emergency or planned General Surgery.

The numbers of inpatients for emergency surgery dropped because the number of emergency and planned surgery beds had been deliberately reduced.

NUMBER OF BEDS TRACKED FROM 2007-2023

Southern Trust took over Management of Daisy Hill Acute Hospital on 1st April 2007.

For the year 1st April 2006 – 31st March 2007, Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry had 49.5 Inpatient beds (for Emergency and planned General Surgery) and 3,432 Emergency General Surgery inpatients

(For the same year Craigavon Hospital had 97 inpatient beds (for Emergency and planned General Surgery) and 3,540 Emergency General Surgery inpatients).

Fast forward to the year (1st April 2022 – 31st March 2023): Daisy Hill Acute Hospital , Newry had plummeted to 8.6 Inpatient beds (for Emergency and planned General Surgery) with only 3 Emergency General Surgery inpatients recorded for the whole year.

The table diagram showing official DOH statistics proves that there was a Decline by Design – and General Surgery Inpatient Beds (for Emergency and planned Surgery) were systematically Cut from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry from 2007 to 2023.

CONCLUSION

The Southern Trust were given the function, under the 2006 Establishment Order to provide accommodation and services in Hospitals in Newry, Craigavon, Armagh, and Dungannon to ensure equal access to hospital services to everyone no matter where they lived in the former Local Government Districts of Newry & Mourne, Craigavon, Armagh, Dungannon, and Banbridge.

But although the Southern Trust Establishment Order clearly states the Southern Trust have a duty to “PROVIDE ” not “DEPRIVE” access to Accommodation and Services in Daisy Hill, Newry, they have not done so, as the falling number of available inpatient Beds in Daisy Hill, Newry for General Surgery over time can be seen in the accompanying table picture.

All Emergency Services, including Fire and Ambulance are Regional Services and as such cannot be changed or withdrawn without going through Regional Public Consultation, where decisions can be challenged by the public who are paying for the service – (not just at local level by the Southern Trust).

The final decision will then rest with the Health Minister after a REGIONAL CONSULTATION which must include Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in Newry.

BACKGROUND

Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry, along with 8 other hospitals in NI was designated as an Acute Hospital with 24/7 Consultant Led Emergency Surgery, Emergency Medical, and Maternity Services since 2003.


>In 2006/07 DHH had 49.5 inpatient beds for General Surgery ( Emergency & planned ) with 3,432 Emergency General Surgery Inpatients.
>In the year 2009/10*: DHH had 48.8 inpatient beds for General Surgery (Emergency & planned) with 3,036 Emergency General Surgery Inpatients.(see picture: 2009/10)


>By the year 20018/19*: DHH had dropped to 27.5 General Surgery inpatient beds (for Emergency & planned Surgery ) with 2,204 Emergency General Surgery Inpatients.


> But by the year 2022/23* (when the General Surgery Speciality had been ‘temporarily removed’ ) Daisy Hill Acute Hospital General Surgery Inpatient bed numbers (for Emergency & planned surgery) plummeted to only 8.6 inpatient beds with only 3 Emergency General Surgery inpatients recorded. (see picture)

REFERENCES

Ref 1 https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/…/doh-approves-permanent… – Permanent Secretary Peter May statement (08 Jan 2024 DOH)

Link to SHSCT Establishment Order 2006

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2006/294/contents/made

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

Establishment Order Trust 2006 nisr_20060294_enDownload
Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry City –the Acute Area Hospital for Newry & Mourne, South Armagh
Daisy Hill Acute Area Hospital, Newry City

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.

Please also see the related post : ‘Emergency Surgery – the Have and the Have Nots’ : https://savedaisyhillhospital.com/2025/05/24/emergency-surgery-the-haves-and-the-have-nots-n-ireland

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© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2025. 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.

Daisy Hill Acute Hospital for Life, Daisy Hill acute hospital, Newry city.
07.13.23
by

MONEY! MONEY! PUBLIC MONEY! 

Nearly 945 Million Pounds for the whole of the Southern Trust in 2021-2. Nearly How much of this c. £945 million was spent on Specialist Acute Inpatient Services and Emergency Services in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry in 2021 -2022?

Hospital services are paid for with public money – funded by your Regional rates, Taxes and National Insurance Contributions. In 2021/22 The Southern Trust had an income of £944,707,000* (nearly £945 million).  Management costs were £29,092,000* (c £29.1 million).   

>How much of this c. £945 million was spent on Specialist Acute Inpatient Services and Emergency Services in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry in 2021 -2022? 

>How much of this c. £945 million was spent on Specialist Acute Inpatient Services and Emergency Services in Craigavon Hospital in 2021 -2022?

>Are Newry & Mourne population (the largest LGD /locality population in the Southern Trust) getting VALUE FOR MONEY?

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

There are TWO Government designated Acute Hospitals in the Southern Trust – the longest established is Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry city which is situated in the Newry & Mourne LGD –CONSISTENTLY THE HIGHEST LOCALITY/LGD population in the Southern Trust.

Newry & Mourne, South Armagh Acute Area Hospital at Daisy Hill, in Newry city
Graphic by Daisy Hill for life

The second Acute Hospital is Craigavon Hospital in Portadown (situated in Craigavon LGD -the second largest locality population in the Southern Trust area, where Newry & Mourne LGD is the highest population)

CRAIGAVON HOSPITAL REDEVELOPMENT PRIORITISED AGAIN (p43 OF SOUTHERN TRUST LATEST ANNUAL REPORT)

The Southern Trust Annual Report & Accounts 2021-22 gives information on how much is being spent overall in the Southern Trust – but the public need to know that the money is being spent FAIRLY across its acute hospitals according to population size/need.  

The public need to know this especially because Craigavon Hospital redevelopment once again gets prioritized in the Southern Trust 10 year Capital Long term Expenditure Plans (p43) but despite the long overdue population-based need and requirement in Newry & Mourne –there is NO MENTION of Long Term Expenditure Plans for the Redevelopment of Daisy Hill Hospital , Newry city, in this same 10 year review of capital priorities statement, as shown quoted below:

“as part of a 10 year review of capital priorities, the Southern HSC Trust has identified a need for investment in excess of some £430m. THIS INCLUDES REDEVELOPMENT OF CRAIGAVON AREA HOSPITAL together with much needed infrastructure, backlog maintenance and diagnostic equipment requirements.”

Southern Trust Annual Report & Accounts 2021-22 p43

This Southern Trust Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22 can be accessed and read in full from the link at the end of the article under Background and References.

IMPORTANT: WHCH LOCALITIES (LGDs) ARE INCLUDED IN THE SOUTHERN TRUST AREA?

IN LEGAL TERMS the Southern Trust area includes ONLY 5 (former) LGDs of (1) Newry & Mourne, (2) Craigavon, (3) Armagh, (4)Dungannon and (5) Banbridge. (Ref: Establishment Order 2006)

The 2006 Order also makes it very clear that accommodation and services should be provided in each of six named hospitals, with addresses, including Daisy Hill, Newry.  It does not say all hospital accommodation and services should be centralised to Craigavon only as the Southern Trust are determined to do.

The operational area of the Southern Trust is NOT Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon; Mid-Ulster; and Newry, Mourne and Down council – This Southern Trust Annual Report has got this wrong on the Southern Trust operational area on p9 of the Southern Trust Annual Report & Accounts 2021/22.

Important:

In Legislation ‘Down’ is in the operational area of the South Eastern Trust and ‘Mid Ulster’ (Cookstown and Magherafelt) are in the Northern Trust.

HEALTH SERVICES COMMISSIONING

The number of people living within a locality (LGD) and assessed population need is supposed to be the primary factor when commissioning health Services so as Newry & Mourne LGD is the highest locality population in the Southern Trust – this should also be reflected in the funding spent on Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry and its Specialist Acute Inpatient services and Emergency services.

Time for Investment in Newry and Mourne LGD's acute Hospital Daisy Hill

Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry was designated in its own right one of the 9 major Acute Hospitals in NI since 2003 (as part of Developing Better Services). As such it is entitled to funding for a fully functioning acute hospital with 24/7 Consultant Led Accident and Emergency Services and 24 /7 Consultant Led Maternity Services.

It was not designated as a ‘support or local hospital’ to Craigavon (as the Southern Trust nominated it to be in 2010) or designated just as a regional elective centre as has been decided without any form of Consultation WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PAYING FOR a fully functioning acute hospital.

Newry & Mourne LGD needs re-imbursement for Hospital funding due to population plan errors in the Southern Trust area > For vitally important information and explanation why Daisy Hill, Newry requires this re-imbursement for Hospital funding due to crucial errors -see the Daisy Hill for Life website – by clicking on the picture LINK below:

PLAYING WITH NUMBERS, PLAYING WITH PEOPLE’S LIVES

BACKGROUND AND REFERENCE

 (* Source: Southern Trust SHSCT Annual Report & Accounts 2021-22 for the year ended 31 March 2022 (pg 115, 43, 9)
Link below: https://southerntrust.hscni.net/about-us/annual-reports/


© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2025

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.

Information on this and other similar topics is also available at the companion Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/daisyhillforlife/ Pls Share and Like posts to show your support and please Follow or Like the Page to receive updates. Thank you.

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

01.29.23
by

As the number of Emergency Departments in NI goes down, the number waiting over 12 hours goes UP by thousands (NI Statistics)

Emergency Department Waiting Times Statistics published by the Department of Health NI indicate that when the number of Emergency Departments in NI was reduced, thousands more people waited over 12 hours in the remaining Emergency Departments in NI .

ED waiting time stats show that 49 people waited over 12 hours, from April to October 2008 when there were 20 Emergency Departments in Northern Ireland. (Type 1, 2 and 3 EDs) The locations of the 20 Type 1, 2 and 3 Emergency Departments in April to October 2008 are shown on NI map.

When there were twenty Emergency Departments in NI, between April and October 2008, statistics show that 49 people waited over 12 Hours to be seen across all the Emergency Departments in NI. (See Table )

The 20 Type 1, 2 and 3 Emergency Departments in NI during the period April to October 2008 are shown below on the map.

COMPARISON

In comparison, when the number of Emergency Departments had been reduced to fifteen EDs across NI, between April and Oct 2020, the number of people waiting over 12 hours had ROCKETED up to 13,365 people.

The figures for 2008 (April to October) are shown below alongside the figures for 2020 in the same 6 month period (April to October) so the comparision can be made. The huge increase in those waiting over 12 hours against the reduced number of EDs open in NI is evident.

ED waiting time stats show that 13,365 people waited over 12 hours between April and Oct 2020 when there were 15 Emergency Departments in Northern Ireland. In comparison 49 people waited over 12 hours between April and Oct 2008 when there were 20 EDs in Northern Ireland. (Type 1, 2 and 3 EDs) Statistics from Department of Health NI

The remaining Emergency Departments in NI, with information on whether they were open or closed during the period April to October 2020 is also shown on the map below. The Emergency Department Types ranged from Major Acute Hospital EDs (Type 1) to the Minor Injury Units (Type 3)

NI Statistics show that when the number of Emergency Departments in NI are reduced, the number of people waiting more than 12 hours increases by thousands. The locations of the Type 1, 2 and 3 Emergency Departments for the periods April -October 2008 and April -October 2020 are shown on a map of NI along with a Table showing the statistics from Department of Health NI

Daisy Hill Acute Hospitals’ Emergency Department (Type 1) in Newry was closed during the period Apr-Oct in 2020.

Daisy Hill was the only Acute Hospital ED in NI closed during this period and this closure contributed significantly to the extra numbers waiting over 12 hours in other Emergency Departments (EDs).

CONCLUSION AND SOLUTION

As these Statistics indicate, FEWER Emergency Departments mean THOUSANDS MORE wait over 12 hours, then a SOLUTION to decrease the numbers waiting in Emergency departments across NI, should be:

RESTORE THE NUMBER OF EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS in NI BACK TO AT LEAST 20 while KEEPING AT LEAST 10 Type 1 EDs (with Emergency Surgery) , including Daisy Hill, Newry and South West, Enniskillen.

This suggested solution will also go some way to helping meet the obligations of Equality Legislation and the Rural Needs Act 2016 to ensure equity of access to emergency healthcare which all the population of NI (Urban and Rural) are entitled to.

BACKGROUND

As the Emergency Department Types in Northern Ireland discussed here ranged from Major Acute Hospital EDs (Type 1) to the Minor Injury Units (Type 3), definitions of each are given below:

DEFINITIONS OF THE THREE SEPERATE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS

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

Type 2 departments are consultant-led service with designated accommodation for the reception of emergency care patients, but which does not provide both emergency medicine and emergency surgical services and/or has time-limited opening hours.

Type 3 departments are minor injury units (MIU) with designated accommodation for the reception of patients with a minor injury and/or illness. It may be doctor or nurse-led. A defining characteristic of this service is that it treats at least minor injuries and/or illnesses and can be routinely accessed without appointment.

(Source: Urgent & Emergency Care Waiting Time Statistics for Northern Ireland)

BACKGROUND
In 2008 there were 20 EDs (Type 1, Type 2, Type 3)
Type 1: Altnagelvin, Antrim, Belfast City, Royal, RBHSC, Mater, Causeway, Craigavon, Daisy Hill (Newry), South West, Ulster

Type 2: Lagan Valley, Downe

Type 3: Tyrone County, Mid Ulster, Whiteabbey, Bangor, Ards, Armagh Community, South Tyrone

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

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

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© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2025. 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.

Daisy Hill Acute Hospital for Life, Daisy Hill acute hospital, Newry city.
02.15.22
by

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

N. Ireland Acute Hospital Emergency Dept Waiting Times 2021


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

09.03.20
by

TIME TO OPEN DAISY HILL HOSPITAL ED NOW!

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

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

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


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

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

END OF SEPTEMBER NOT SOON ENOUGH TO OPEN ED

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

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

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

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

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

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

ED IS A REGIONAL SERVICE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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