Tag Archives: Creggan

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

04.02.17
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Daisy Hill Acute Hospital Emergency department in the news

Daisy Hill Emergency Department served 53555+ people in 2016 - banner

The function of the Southern Trust is: ‘TO PROVIDE ACCOMMODATION AND SERVICES IN DAISY HILL HOSPITAL, ARMAGH HOSPITAL, SOUTH TYRONE HOSPITAL AND CRAIGAVON HOSPITAL’ (under the 2006 Establishment Order.) The SHSCT are paid £20 million per year of our public money and have 1,600+ admin staff to do this.

The Southern Trust have landed us with a very serious problem – by proposing that they may be unable to treat emergency patients in Daisy Hill Emergency Department at night. In response some councillors say they intend to bring an emergency motion to Newry, Mourne and Down Council meeting on Monday 3rd April 2017.

Help defend services at Daisy Hill Hospital

In 2015 the former Newry & Mourne District Council organised an excellent public meeting in Bellinis followed by a March of over 10,000 people

– please lobby all our Councillors to get Newry, Mourne and Down council to hold ANOTHER MEETING for ALL ACUTE SERVICES in DAISY HILL ACUTE HOSPITAL and insist on getting an answer from the HSCB.

Pre-paid Service

The Council ‘set rates’ which go towards paying for hospital services including Emergency services in this area. We are pre-paying for a service that the Southern Trust are now warning they may “temporarily suspend” at night in the Emergency Department with a weak excuse that they cannot get staff.

Equality of Access

For the sake of everyone in our community-including families and children and those who can’t speak up for their rights -we demand 24/7 equality of access to hospital accommodation and services at Daisy Hill Acute Hospital – as is our right. If the Department can find £11.7 million for electrical infrastructure for Craigavon Hospital – they can find funds to staff DHH A&E 24/7.Childrens services must be kept at Daisy Hill Acute hospital, New

Action

As a community we also need to write again to the HSCB and Public Health Authority (PHA) quoting their own information. The booklet given to us at the meetings as part of the Consultation on Criteria for Reconfiguration Health and Social Care Services (pg 23) (link at end of comment to document** )states: The Role of the HSCB is: “as the lead commissioner, the Health and Social Care Board, working with the Public Health Agency, has the primary responsibility for assessing the needs of the population at local and regional level and for setting the strategic direction for services provision in response to those needs.”

Public Involvement in Decision Making

Also page 24 shows the part we can play in this decision making. A direct quote from this document states Under Change or Withdrawal of services: “Personal and Public Involvement: Patients, clients, carers and communities should be at the centre of decision making in health and social care. This means that they must be MEANINGFULLY INVOLVED in the planning, delivery and evaluation of their services.

HSC BODIES are ACCOUNTABLE to people and communities for the quality, ACCESSIBILITY and responsiveness of the services they plan and provide…. the Reform Act places “ A STATUTORY requirement on all HSC bodies to INVOLVE AND CONSULT THE PUBLIC ABOUT PROPOSALS AND DECISIONS in the planning, commissioning and delivery of health and social care services.”(pg 24 Consultation on Criteria for Reconfiguring Health and Social Care Services**: see link below)

In view of this, they are not entitled – in a take it or leave it attitude to tell us they can’t get staff IN NEWRY ONLY and how they are going to spend our public money on hospital services while still continuing to spend our allocated MONEY ON HOSPITAL SERVICES ELSEWHERE. We are entitled to EQUALITY OF ACCESS to 24/7 Emergency Care in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital – we are being given unfavourable treatment in comparison to the people of Craigavon locality who are not being denied 24/7 access to Emergency services.

Newry & Mourne presently has the 4th highest population in NI and will have the 3rd highest population in NI by 2023 after only Belfast and Lisburn. The Health needs of Newry & Mourne Locality (one locality- which includes South Armagh) – the largest population in the Southern Trust can be ignored no longer. We deserve the same hospital services as are provided in Altnagelvin.

The Southern Trust cannot be allowed to wash their hands of their responsibility to provide Emergency Services at Daisy Hill Acute Hospital (at night) – like they did with our responses to the Stroke Consultation. They are not allowed to put people’s lives at risk.

Please share the news with friends, family everyone you know including Councillors, MLAs and MPs.

Daisy Hill Hospital A and E Department is vital for stroke and lif

An Ultimatum with no alternatives?

If Daisy Hill Acute Hospital Emergency Department closes at night – where are we supposed to go? THEY CANNOT GIVE US AN ULTIMATUM WITH NO ALTERNATIVES.

Where are ambulances supposed to bring dying stroke and coronary care patients as well as children and all other emergencies?

How can they possibly close DHH A&E at night when: in 2016 – 53,556 people attended Daisy Hill Acute Hospital Emergency Department. So who is going to treat these emergency patients – men, women, babies and children?

What happens to the people who are waiting in A&E when they close the doors? People will die as a result of this. NO EXCUSES can justify refusing to treat emergency patients (including stroke) WITH NO NEARBY ALTERNATIVE.

Daisy Hill Emergency Department served 53555+ people in 2016 - bannerWaiting Stats in other Emergency Departments

Belfast and Craigavon Hospitals are the nearest Emergency Departments but in 2016- in Craigavon Hospital 26,594 people waited between 5 to 12 hours and 369 people waited over 12 hours to be seen in the Emergency Department so we can’t possibly be expected to go there in pain – particularly at night.

Also, in the year 2016 in the Royal A&E, 32,664 people waited to be seen between 5 to 12 hours and 698 people waited over 12 hours to be seen in the Emergency Department.

For the same year ending Dec 2016 in Antrim Hospital A&E –27,608 people waited between 5 to 12 hours and 1,558 people waited over 12 hours in A&E to be seen .

There is obviously a shortage of A&E staff everywhere but the Southern Trust inexcusably seem to think only the Newry & Mourne Locality can do without emergency services at night.

Daisy Hill Hospital is an acute hospital in Newry

Daisy Hill Hospital – designated Acute hospital in Newry.

Conclusion

Daisy Hill is a designated acute hospital and MUST have an Emergency Department. The Southern Trust will be responsible for creating a serious equality and public safety issue if their latest proposals go ahead.

Please lobby all our Councillors. As the Council is our representative – request that they hold a public meeting and demand answers from the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) and the Public Health Authority (PHA) and the Department and insist on getting answers. Thank you for supporting Daisy Hill acute Hospital.

BACKGROUND INFO:

https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/…/hsc-reconfiguration-consulta… **(link to info provided at Department of Health Meeting – go to Annex A, p23 and 24, Section 7: Personal and Public Involvement, “HSC bodies are accountable to people and communities for the quality, accessibility and responsiveness of the services they plan and provide….

See newrytimes.com and other press for news of proposed emergency motion at council meeting .

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

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

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

02.26.17
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Official Statistics back up Newry and Mourne’s need for a new Acute hospital in Newry city

Newry+Mourne-Locality-3rd highest-population-in-NI 2023-Nisra

Newry & Mourne Locality has always been the largest of the 5 localities (LGDs) in the Southern Trust and in 2023 will have the 3RD HIGHEST PROJECTED POPULATION IN THE WHOLE OF NI and is entitled to have a functioning ACUTE hospital and a hyper acute stroke unit as in Altnagelvin.

This must be acknowledged by providers in the Planning of new hospitals and existing specialist acute hospital Services as outlined in the Bengoa Report.

Newry & Mourne and South Armagh Citizens, like those elsewhere in Northern Ireland  have already pre- paid for acute hospitals and specialist acute hospital  services through National Insurance, taxes and rates etc. – so every locality (Local Government District) is  entitled to value for money, based on population size and need.

In conclusion – these official population statistics back up Newry and Mourne’s need for a new Acute hospital in Newry city.

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

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

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

01.14.17
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Speak up for Daisy Hill Hospital – 2017

Speak up for Daisy Hill and submit your views to the consultation by 20th Jan 2017

This meeting on Mon 16th Jan in Newry hosted by the Department of Health is the last chance to find out info on the criteria from the Bengoa Report for changing the Health service in NI and its effects on people in Newry & Mourne, before the consultation period closes, 4 days later on 20th January 2017. We should ask for the Consultation period to be extended further than the deadline of 20th January, 2017.

Speak up and Take part in the Dept. of Health consultation to keep specialist services at Daisy Hill Hospital

Speak up and take part in the Dept. of Health meeting and consultation. Consultation closes 20th January 2017

At the Meeting we will hear the Department of Health’s reasons for proposed Centralisation of services. There are proposals to look at the centralisation of the following specialist services: Stroke services, Emergency and Urgent Care (A&E), GP out of hours, general surgery, paediatrics, neo natal services,  obstetrics, rehabilitation, community based elderly care, etc., (see Bengoa Report pg 76)

The decision on the proposed withdrawal of specialist acute stroke and rehabilitation services from Level 6 Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry –  used as the only local case study in the Bengoa Panel was and still is very controversial and should be examined before final approval is given for removal of stroke services . The Department/Health Minister can intervene if a decision to withdraw services is controversial. This can be shown by the following quote showing the Department of Health’s position on change or withdrawal of Services issued November 2014:                                                                                                             

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH POLICY GUIDANCE CIRCULAR :
Change or withdrawal of services– Guidance on Roles and Responsibilities, Intro 2:

“This means there are likely to be occasions when decisions about services, properly arrived at by the relevant Arms Length Body (ALB), will need the final approval of the Department/Minister because they are major or controversial in nature”.

(Annex 1 ,page 23 Health & Wellbeing 2026 Consultation on Criteria for Reconfiguring Health & Social Care Services)

Therefore -they can look again at decisions made by the Southern Trust and Commissioners and see if the information is accurate and then make the final decision.

The Bengoa Panel Report itself, which selected the criteria – highlights the proposed centralisation of stroke services from Daisy Hill hospital to Craigavon as a major Local Case Study of best practice – to be up-scaled throughout NI.  The Bengoa Report Criteria will be used as a guideline for future plans and this is why it is so important for the people of Newry & Mourne to attend this meeting and ask questions. If we do not question it and give our views, at the meeting and in writing- these criteria will be used to centralise services in Newry & Mourne to Craigavon.  This consultation is different to previous ones, as it is the actual Department of Health, led by Health Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA- so we are optimistic that they may actually listen if enough people answer.

© 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.

01.08.17
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Bengoa Report uses the London Stroke Model – does it give N.Ireland the full picture?

The Bengoa Report uses the London Stroke Model as an example of international good practice, but by only mentioning the 8 Hyper acute stroke units and ignoring the rest of the local stroke services network in London – is N.Ireland getting the full picture?

The diagram shows there are 31 Stroke Units in London including 8 ‘Hyper acute’ stroke units (HASUs) following reconfiguration of stroke services.

The diagram shows there are 31 Stroke Units in London including 8 ‘Hyper acute’ stroke units (HASUs) following reconfiguration of stroke services.

The International Level Case Study in the Bengoa Panel Report (pg 72) would seem to imply that all the 30 stroke units in London were centralised to only 8 hyper acute stroke units.  As the diagram shows- there is a network of 31 Stroke Units remaining in London including 8 ‘Hyper acute’ stroke units (HASUs) following reconfiguration of stroke services.

It was never intended that ‘Hyper Acute’ Stroke Units in London should work in isolation from the other 23 existing dedicated local stroke units providing stroke services. The Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme for 2016 shows there is a total of 628 stroke beds in all 31 stroke units in London.

According to the London Stroke Model HYPER ACUTE STROKE UNITS (HASUs) ARE ONLY FOR THE FIRST 72 HOURS OF STROKE CARE – that is why a network of dedicated local stroke units as well as the 8 Hyper Acute stroke units were needed in London.

Confirmation the Southern Trust have proposed the creation of a’ hyper-acute’ stroke unit can be seen in the following extract from a 27th October 2014 press statement:

“The Trust’s proposals are:

  1. The modernisation of in-patient acute and rehabilitation Stroke Services, which are currently provided at Lurgan, Loane House (South Tyrone Hospital) Daisy Hill and Craigavon Area Hospitals. The Trust is proposing the development of a ‘hyper-acute’ stroke unit at Craigavon Area Hospital…..”*.

The Southern Trust’s proposal to have only one ‘Hyper Acute’ Stroke Unit in Craigavon locality with no network of dedicated local stroke units in Newry or Dungannon is in COMPLETE CONTRAST to the London Stroke Model.

If the London Stroke Model is followed correctly by the Southern Trust for safe stroke care –TWO ‘hyper acute’ stroke units – one in Newry City’s Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, and one in Craigavon Hospital – attached to the already existing stroke units are needed. Only this proposal would give ALL THE POPULATION of the Southern Trust the same EQUALITY OF ACCESS to a network of stroke services (both ‘hyper acute’ and dedicated local acute rehabilitation stroke services) as there exists in London.

The criteria evolving from this Bengoa Report is the subject being addressed by the Department of Health in a series of public meetings around Northern Ireland before the current health Consultation on the criteria closes on 20th January 2017.  The meeting in Newry will take place on Monday 16th January in the Newry Conferencing and Banqueting Centre, 39-41 The Mall Newry from 7 -9 pm.

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01.05.17
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Bengoa Report – Shock link to Daisy Hill Hospital

Shock as Bengoa Report proposes Daisy Hill Hospital Stroke Services Removal as Way Forward for NI,

People campaigning to save stroke services in Daisy Hill acute Hospital, Newry now face a new challenge with the Bengoa panel report.

This report that addresses Health and Social Care Reform in Northern Ireland,  uses the controversial proposed removal of Stroke services from Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry as the prime local Case Study for Centralising Services.  It states it is an example of how “services can be changed in ways that benefit patients.” No associated Clinical evidence or References are provided in the Case Study to back up the claims and the theory. (Ref: Page 72-3 Bengoa Expert Panel Report ‘Systems not Structures, 2016’)

The criteria evolving from this Bengoa Report is the subject being addressed by the Department of Health in a series of public meetings around Northern Ireland before the current health Consultation on the criteria closes on 20th January 2017.  The meeting in Newry will take place on Monday 16th January in the Newry Conferencing and Banqueting Centre, 39-41 The Mall Newry from 7 -9 pm.

Michelle O’Neill, MLA, is the first Health Minister who has held a public meeting in Newry City – this is an encouraging sign of inclusion for local people and an ideal opportunity for Newry & Mourne people to have a platform for their views on the “rationalisation” or proposed centralisation of health services from Daisy Hill acute hospital and from their area.

As published on the Department of Health’s website  “Speaking about the events, Minister O’Neill said: “They allow the public to engage face to face with senior professional medical, nursing and policy staff  from my Department and the views expressed will be reported back to me.”

Background info

The proposed removal of the Stroke services from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry to Craigavon Hospital by the Southern Trust has warranted a continuous long-running community campaign, ignored by the Southern Trust.  An estimated 10,000 people marched under the banner ‘Save Daisy Hill Stroke Services’ in a Public Rally and march organised by Newry & Mourne Council in March 2015.  The Lord Mayor of the former Newry & Mourne Council, Daire Hughes, handed in a letter to Daisy Hill, from the Council for the attention of the Southern Trust regarding the removal of stroke services from Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry City to Craigavon hospital.

The Bengoa Report panel members include: Professor Rafael Bengoa (Chair), Dr Alan Stout, Bronagh Scott, Mairead McAlinden, Mark A Taylor

One of the local experts who made up The Bengoa Expert Panel Mairead McAlinden was previous Chief Executive of the Southern Trust (until March 2015.)  She has subsequently been appointed as a member of the Transformation Advisory Board to help implement the Department of Health’s follow on Report: ‘Health and Wellbeing 2026: Delivering Together’ which will include a public consultation on Stroke services in February 2017.

All interested in attending the Department of Health meeting on Monday 16th January 2017 from 7-9 pm should come to Newry Conferencing and Banqueting Centre, 39-41 The Mall Newry BT34 1AT, Tel 028 3025 5790.

You can also link to the Daisy Hill hospital for life campaign at Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook

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12.28.16
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Bengoa Report Public Meeting in Newry Mon 16th Jan: 7 – 9 pm

dec-27th-bengoa-meeting-1_3

Click here for meeting info from the Department of Health’s website.

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06.26.16
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GOOD NEWS FOR DAISY HILL HOSPITAL?

“We have just recently secured 16 doctors to come and work in the Southern Trust.”  announced Southern Trust interim Chief Executive Francis Rice to the NI Assembly Health Committee on 16 June 2016.

The full minutes of the Health Committee meeting are available at Committee for Health, meeting on Thursday, 16 June 2016 Official Report minutes of evidence

The document can also be downloaded as a PDF from the NI Assembly Hansard Health Committee meeting minutes page (Thursday 16 June 2016) Briefing by Health and Social Care Trusts, Quote on page 10 of pdf).http://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/officialreport/minutesofevidence.aspx?&cid=10

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