Tag Archives: developing better services

07.27.25
by

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.
06.01.23
by

Newry City & District Health Rights Info Page

We are many, we are strong and the Law is here to protect our Right to Healthcare

Newry & Mourne LGD has always had the highest population, highest number of births and highest number of children of the 5 localities in the Southern Trust area.

POPULATION NEED IN NEWRY & MOURNE

Newry & Mourne LGD* has always had the highest population; highest number of births and highest number of children aged under 18 of the five localities /LGDs) in the Southern Trust area.

(*See below for info on the 5 LGD populations in the Southern Trust )

Official statistics, as presented by NISRA must determine where Specialist acute Hospitals are located in NI.

Population Need: Newry & District GP Federation

Newry & District with 159,599 patients – has the 2nd Highest number of patients registered with the 17 GP Federations in all NI. (Derry is the highest and Newry & District is the Second Highest. Figures: 2021/22)

Newry & District has the 2nd Highest number of children in NI under 18 (36,117). Figures: 2021/22)

* The Newry & Mourne LGD is still relevant as the former 26 Council Model is still used today in terms of the ‘operational areas’ of the Health and Social Care Trusts in NI.

There are FIVE Local Government Districts (LGDs) in the Southern Trust area. In consistent order of population size since the Southern Health Trust was established in 2007, they rank:

>(1st) Newry & Mourne

>(2nd) Craigavon

>(3rd) Armagh

>(4th) Dungannon

>(5th) Banbridge.

Newry & Mourne LGD has a population of 106,813 with 28,116 (Children Under-18s) (2020 NISRA )

Newry & Mourne LGD has always had the highest population; highest number of births and highest number of children aged under 18 of the five localities /LGDs) in the Southern Trust area.

LAWS WHICH PROTECT YOU RE: HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE /PUBLIC SERVICES

>Human Rights Act 1998, (Right to life…etc)

>NI Act 1998, (Section 75 Equality categories including disability, political opinion, race, and so on)

>Fair Treatment and Employment Legislation (Access to premises)

>Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016

>Climate Change Act (NI) 2022, (Carbon Footprint etc)

>Regulatory Impact Assessments

>The Southern Health Social Services Trust (Establishment) Order (NI) 2006

>The Southern Health Social Services Trust (Dissolution Order) (NI) 2006

>Managing Public Money (NI)

We have to pre-pay for our hospital services in Daisy Hill Acute Area Hospital, Newry city through Regional Rates, Taxes and National insurance deductions from our wages so are entitled to value for money.

The Population need in Newry & Mourne and all Laws shown here must be adhered to by all relevant authorities when they commission and/or remove hospital services and accommodation.

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

(See also : Newry & Mourne LGD ranks-in-the-top-4-lgds-in-all-NI since-1971-so-where’s-the-matched-funding-for-daisy-hill-acute-hospital-newry?

Other Useful Information on Your Rights is available from NI Direct website: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/find-out-your-rights

Independent advice is available from the following organisations

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission Website: https://nihrc.org/
Equality Commission for Northern Ireland https://www.equalityni.org/Home
Advice NI https://www.adviceni.net/about

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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Email Address:


© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2024

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
04.03.23
by

THE TIME TO BUILD A MAJOR SPECIALIST ACUTE HOSPITAL IN NEWRY CITY IS NOW!

The most urgent Capital Priority and counter proposal when answering the Southern Trust Emergency Surgery Consultation is to build a Major new Specialist Acute Hospital in Newry city – not a community treatment centre.

This Capital Priority needed right now for Newry & Mourne is funding and business plan for a Specialist Acute Hospital building for the area, as agreed at Government level in 2005 so it is LONG overdue.

According to the Southern Trust, the Department of Health NI has allocated £4.5 million to spend on progressing acute health services in Newry city. The Trust says this funding was to purchase a site at Abbey Way, Newry and associated design for a new community treatment centre.  But to progress acute services they should be provided in an ACUTE HOSPITAL  in Newry just like in Craigavon – not just in a treatment centre.  The £4.5million site, at Abbey Way, Newry, is large enough and the ideal place for a NEW Major Specialist Acute Hospital Building.

Official statistics have proven over and over that the large size of the growing population in the long established settlement in Newry & District justifies funding for a new build major Specialist Acute hospital in Newry City, as since 1971, Newry & Mourne LGD has always been in the top 4 highest populations in NI (after Belfast, Lisburn (Greater Belfast) and Derry) and Newry & Mourne LGD is projected to be the 3rd Highest by 2026. (A higher population than Derry) (NISRA)

Funding plans for a new hospital to upgrade Daisy Hill Acute Hospital were announced for Newry by previous Secretary of State, Sir Peter Hain in 2005 to match the population size.  This funding has still not been followed up by the Southern Trust in their Capital Priorities Programme submitted to the Department of Health/ DoH, but the population has not forgotten.

Building a new Specialist Acute Area Hospital building in Newry could then complement the Daisy Hill Hospital building, if the intention is to reconfigure Daisy Hill into a ring-fenced elective care centre (instead of a specialist acute hospital) as the Southern Trust have proposed.  

The proposed removal of Emergency Surgery from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry city to Craigavon is forefront in people’s minds. At the recent public meeting in the Canal Court Hotel, the few people who were allowed to speak made it clear to the Southern Trust representatives there that they were totally opposed to removal of emergency surgery, and questioned the Trust’s constant removal of acute services from Newry, as well as the Southern Trust’s failure to provide beds for patients and diagnostic equipment for Staff in Daisy Hill, Newry city.

If the DoH and Southern Trust are now ready to offer some long overdue capital investment to actually provide specialist acute services in a specialist hospital in Newry instead of transferring services, beds and equipment to Craigavon, then the people of Newry & Mourne, South Armagh and surrounding areas may well be interested in their proposals.

If the Southern Trust fail to provide for the Newry & Mourne population, and keep up this policy of transferring specialist services to Craigavon, they will be called out on this as it goes against the Rural Needs Act and other legislation. 

Calls for fair treatment can be expressed through talking to Councillors, asking for an emergency Council meeting and through responding in writing to the Consultation on Emergency Surgery.

The Southern Trust need to listen to what we want – not continue telling us what we can’t have.

This is the one and only chance in your lifetime you are ever going to get to write to the Southern Trust what you want, what you pay for through Rates and Taxes, and more importantly what you are entitled to.  The Southern Trust have a statutory duty to take into account in their decision making and responses, any suggestions you make in reply to the consultation on removal of emergency surgery from Newry to Craigavon.

That is why when 19,000 people including over 12,000 people from this area opposed the centralisation of Stroke services to Craigavon, Altnagelvin and Belfast the Department of Health couldn’t go ahead with their unfair proposals because of the opposition. 

We have a right to challenge the constant removal of Specialist Acute Services especially Emergency Surgery and Emergency Medical Services from Newry to Craigavon.

Daisy Hill for Life is asking people of Newry, Mourne and Down to write NO to the questions in the Southern Trust Consultation Questionnaire on centralising Emergency surgery to Craigavon.

People power through Consultations -Based on demographics Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry should be confirmed as a location for a Hyperacute and Acute Stroke Unit

Please also speak/write to your Councillors, MLAs, MPs and Trade Unions asking them for their support in rejecting the Southern Trust’s proposal to remove Emergency Surgery from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry. (How to contact them : see this page: https://savedaisyhillhospital.com/how-you-can-help/ )

Please also ask for their support for the need for the long overdue Major new Specialist Acute Hospital Building in Newry – not a community treatment centre.    A new Major Specialist Acute Hospital building will also bring huge economic benefits to Newry, including construction jobs.

IMPORTANT RELATED CONTENT

(See also : https://savedaisyhillhospital.com/2020/02/04/newry-mourne-local-government-district-lgd-ranks-in-the-top-4-lgds-in-all-northern-ireland-consistently-since-1971-so-where-is-the-matched-funding-for-daisy-hill-acute-hospital-newry/

Read how Newry & Mourne Local Government District was incorrectly made to look like the smallest population in Southern Trust area when it was really the largest, in a crucially important Population Plan Table, created in 2013 for the influential ‘Transforming Your Care’ Health Review – Playing with numbers, playing with people’s lives

This article also gives vitally important information on the population sizes of the 5 Local Government Districts which make up the Southern Health and Social Care Trust operational area.

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 – 2024

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.

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

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Daisy Hill Acute Hospital for Life, Daisy Hill acute hospital, Newry city.
06.29.22
by

2 Days to go! You need to Know! Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry and the DoH NI Urgent and Emergency Care Services Consultation 2022

2 Days to Go ! Consultation closes on Fri 1st July 2022 @ 5pm

Please respond to the DOH NI Consultation on Urgent and Emergency Care Services in Northern Ireland . For reasons why – Pls Read Why This Consultation Matters below.

Link to the Online Consultation – below:

https://consultations2.nidirect.gov.uk/doh-1/review-of-urgent-and-emergency-care-services-in-no/

Main Department of Health NI Consultation Documents are available to read here:

https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-review-urgent-and-emergency-care-services-northern-ireland

WAYS TO RESPOND to the DoH Urgent and Emergency Care Services Consultation 2022: 

 By Email > Send your completed Consultation Form
by Email to :  UECS@health-ni.gov.uk

By Online Questionnaire > Using :

https://consultations2.nidirect.gov.uk/doh-1/review-of-urgent-and-emergency-care-services-in-no/

By Post > A hard copy of your response Questionnaire can also be sent to:

Department of Health, Regional Health Transformation Directorate, Annex 3, Castle Buildings, Stormont, Belfast BT4 3SQ

WHY THIS CONSULTATION MATTERS TO THE FUTURE OF DAISY HILL ACUTE HOSPITAL IN NEWRY

Newry South Down and South Armagh Area Hospital -Daisy Hill, Newry City.

The DOH NI Public Consultation on Urgent and Emergency care suggests we should agree to their proposals for future Urgent and Emergency care services in NI and that the services should be delivered as they were during March – Oct 2020.  We can’t be expected to agree to this, as this was when Daisy Hill Hospital Emergency Department was closed, Daisy Hill staff were relocated and 3 Emergency Departments were provided in Craigavon and none in Newry.

Because they are planning for this again – the Southern Health and Social Care Trust has received funding for and works completed (Nov2020) for a dedicated additional ambulance handover zone for Craigavon Hospital – but not for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital (Southern Trust Delivery Plan 2021/2022).

 The ‘No More Silos Action Plan’ published Oct 2020 is the document that is referred to in the NI Executive Summary Document, when Daisy Hill was excluded from the NI Regional ED Network, NI Critical Care Network and Southern Trust Rebuild Plans.  The Executive have been told “Once the public consultation has concluded, proposals will be finalised and an investment and implementation plan will be developed for Ministerial consideration” (Ref: Executive Summary p2/3)

So we can’t agree to this consultation because Daisy Hill hospital ED Newry city – is not included in the No More Silos Action Plan. Daisy Hill Hospital doesn’t feature in this future provision of ED services in NI if they go by No More Silos. We have to tell DOH what’s been left out. Remember Daisy Hill was left out of stroke options, never again must this happen! We must act/reply now or find your way whatever way you can to Craigavon, Mid Ulster.

In 2003 Daisy Hill, Newry was designated as a Major Acute Hospital with a Consultant led 24/7 ED  to ensure timely access within one hour to Emergency Surgery and Emergency Medical Care to its very large catchment population. This catchment  population depending on access to timely Emergency Surgery and Emergency Medical Care , has increased yearly since then and in  2022 Newry & District has the second highest number of patients in NI (159,599) including the 2nd highest number of children U18 (36,117) registered with GP Practices. (The Highest is in Derry -Source: BSO).

This Consultation closes this Friday 1st July 2022 So please help the community, the economy and for Daisy Hill Hospital today – help keep our Type 1 Emergency Department in Daisy Hill, Newry.

We know you are all just waiting to do whatever you can to help Daisy Hill for all our futures. WE ARE ALL STRONG WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER!

BACKGROUND:

NO MORE SILOS ACTION PLAN LINK
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/doh-no-more-silos.pdf

No More Silos is the Department of Health’s action plan to support and maintain urgent and emergency care services, making changes to existing services and introducing new ones to ensure that patients can access the right care, in the right place, and at the right time. In October 2020, the Minister of Health published an urgent and emergency care action plan called ‘No More Silos’. This sought to maintain and improve urgent and emergency care services through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

2. KEEP EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS FOR EMERGENCIES (pg 7 No More Silos Key Action 2 )

“How will it work? This action is closely linked to the following action to develop Urgent Care Centres. Under the new arrangements, direct access to Emergency Departments will only be possible for patients who arrive by ambulance or who are referred to the Emergency Department from the Urgent Care Centre or by their GP. All patients who make their own way to a hospital site will be assessed by a health professional who will determine whether they should attend ED, the Urgent Care Centre, or some other service. Care will be needed to ensure this does not lead to an increase in 999 calls for an ambulance to access ED. All patients will continue to have 24/7 access to care and advice on current ED sites”

IMPORTANT STATS

Latest May 2022 figures show (after Derry) Newry & District has the Second Highest Number of patients in NI registered with GP Practices. (159,599) including the 2nd highest number of children U18 (36,117) (Source: BSO).

These GP Registers state:

Newry & District has: The Highest number of patients in NI with Heart Failure and Heart Failure due to Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction.

2nd Highest number of Patients in NI (after only Derry) with Cardiovascular Disease Primary Prevention, Osteoporosis and Depression

3rd Highest number of Patients in NI (after Derry and Antrim) with Cancer, Coronary Heart Disease, Asthma, Atrial Fibrillation, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Diabetes, Palliative Care and Hypertension (which can lead to heart disease and Stroke).

4th Highest number of Patients with Stroke: South West is 3rd: Causeway 7th: Craigavon 10th. This must inform where stroke services are provided in NI.


© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2022. 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 on Facebook with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank-you.

Additional articles on this Consultation and other ways to respond using the longer questionnaire help is available from : IT’S 2022 AND DAISY HILL NEEDS YOU! in the Dept. of Health Urgent and Emergency Care Consultation (Closes 1st July 2022) – Daisy Hill Hospital for Life (savedaisyhillhospital.com)

and

Consultation on changes to Access to Urgent & Emergency Care Services 2022 (Department of Health NI) – Daisy Hill Hospital for Life (savedaisyhillhospital.com)

02.04.20
by

Newry & Mourne Local Government District (LGD) has consistently been ranked within the Top 4 LGDs by population size consistently since 1971.

Newry & Mourne Local Government District (LGD) has consistently ranked in the Top 4 populations by population size of LGDS in all N. Ireland consistently since 1971 – So where’s the Funding for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry?

Now is finally the time for proper investment for Daisy Hill, as Newry & Mourne LGD has a population bigger than Antrim LGD, Castlereagh LGD, and also Craigavon LGD, who all have MAJOR ACUTE HOSPITALS ALREADY.

Time for Investment for Newry and Mourne LGD and Daisy Hill Hospital , Newry.

Now is finally the time for proper investment for Daisy Hill, as Newry & Mourne LGD has a population bigger than Antrim LGD, Castlereagh LGD, and also Craigavon LGD, who all have MAJOR ACUTE HOSPITALS ALREADY.

10 Acute hospitals and Table of 15 largest populations in NI (2019), hospital map Northern Ireland

The picture shows the Present configuration of 10 Acute hospitals (red dots) now left in NI in 2019, alongside a Table of the 15 largest population settlements here (Source 2018 NISRA*).

There has been a Hospital on the Daisy Hill Hospital site in Newry since the 19th century, for its growing Population.  In 2003 it was officially designated as one of ten out of 19 existing Acute hospitals, under ‘Developing Better Services’ needed for the acute care needs of the people of NI.

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

But despite Newry & Mourne consistently having the largest LGD population in the operational area of the Southern Trust**, its funding for Acute services and Capital for Redevelopment as a MAJOR ACUTE HOSPITAL has never been equal to the other acute hospital in the Southern Trust, Craigavon.

The 19 acute hospitals in NI in 1995 were reduced to a total of ten after various Dept. of Health Reforms.  The LGD populations* or Settlements shown in the Graphic (source NISRA*) would suggest that Population size and need does not seem to drive current funding decisions.  Health investment in NI continues to focus on 4-6 Hospitals, instead of the ten designated acute hospitals on the map.

Only 6 URBAN hospitals (Royal, Belfast City, Craigavon, Antrim, Altnagelvin and the Ulster) continue to be allocated major funding.

These 6 hospitals, (from the previous 19) were given major investment as specialist acute hospitals, because of hospital size, NOT based on where the largest  LGD/settlements of population lived, [Regional Strategy for 1997 to 2002. – Detail available in previous article, link at the end of piece.]

>DAISY HILL ACUTE HOSPITAL, IN NEWRY & MOURNE LGD IS STILL BEING OVERLOOKED DESPITE BEING THE LARGEST LOCALITY OF ALL 5 LGDs IN SOUTHERN TRUST AREA & FOURTH LARGEST LGD IN N.IRELAND.

Just as in the Western Trust (with a total population of 301,448*) there is need for TWO Specialist Acute Stroke Units - so too, the Southern Trust (with a larger population of 380,312*) is also entitled to TWO Specialist Stroke Units (HASUs and Acute Stroke Units), at Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry and Craigavon Hospital. This would ensure that everyone in the Southern Trust has immediate access to CT scanning and life saving thrombolysis, followed by direct access into a stroke unit.

Daisy Hill acute Hospital, in Newry & Mourne LGD is still being overlooked for investment and specialist service provision, without explanation.  

Official NISRA demographic statistics prove that the population need exists in the area of Newry & Mourne (which includes South Armagh). This LGD has consistently been the FOURTH largest population in NI, as well as the highest locality population of all 5 localities/LGDs in the operational area** of the Southern Health Trust since its inception in 2007.

Investment in CT and MRI scanners essential for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City, in the largest locality in the southern Trust area.
What progress have the Southern Trust recruitment team made to date recruiting for Daisy Hill Emergency department?

TIME NOW FOR PROPER INVESTMENT FOR NEWRY & MOURNE LOCALITY ACUTE HOSPITAL, DAISY HILL, INCLUDING INVESTMENT IN STROKE SERVICES, SCANNING EQUIPMENT AND HOSPITAL CAPITAL PRIORITIES

If Health Chiefs and those in charge of funding were to fully realise the actual size of the Newry & Mourne population, from valid NISRA statistics, then changes could be made to rectify the situation and put a stop to the wrong categorisation of Daisy Hill as a ‘smaller’ Hospital, when it should be a large Specialist Acute Hospital to truly reflect the population size and need in the area.

For example Even though the Executive Summary of the Bengoa Report*** P19 stated clearly to the NI Executive “IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE for this report to dictate to people in different parts of Northern Ireland what services they should and should not expect to be located in their area or local hospital” THEY DID EXACTLY THAT in THE FULL BENGOA EXPERT PANEL REPORT (P.73)

In this report all of Northern Ireland was inappropriately dictated to and told as a Local Case Study that Craigavon Area Hospital would be the site for a centralised Specialist Stroke Unit above all other locations in NI. Newry & Mourne’s population were also publicly inappropriately dictated to, that they would only get stroke rehabilitation in a community setting instead of retention of the existing Specialist Acute/Rehabilitation Stroke Unit in Daisy Hill acute Hospital.

Official statistics, as presented by NISRA must determine where Specialist acute Hospitals are located in NI.

NOW IS THE TIME FOR CHANGE & PROPER INVESTMENT

The Newry & Mourne population was left out of plans for future investment for a NEW hospital, left out of the NI 2019 Reshaping Stroke Services Options and IGNORED when it came to funding and long term future investment for CT, MRI and non obstetric scanners but NOW IS THE TIME FOR CHANGE.  

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

>NOW is the time for proper investment (with Rebates) for Newry & Mourne and Daisy Hill Hospital as a Specialist Acute Hospital NOW,  just as had been intended under Government Backed Report in 2003 and Strategic Investment Report in 2005 which had Secretary of State backing.     

PLEASE SHARE WIDELY

Please Share widely – with your help this info could reach the right people with the power to make the necessary changes, such as the new Health Minister Mr Robin Swann MLA and new Finance Minister Mr Conor Murphy MLA.  Please keep supporting Daisy Hill Hospital for Life!

<       BACKGROUND INFORMATION                  >

Reference * NISRA is the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency ; https://www.nisra.gov.uk/

IMPORTANT INFO ON LGDs AND COUNCILS

Despite the fact that there are now 11 Councils in Northern Ireland in 2020, the (former) 26 council model is still relevant today for the purpose of Health Funding. 

NISRA continues to also provide populations by HSC Trusts aggregated from the former 26 local government districts. These 26 former LGDs remain named in legislation as the ‘operational areas’ of the Health and Social Care Trusts in NI according to the Establishment Orders 2006.

Reference ** The 5 LGDs named  in the’ OPERATIONAL AREA’ of the Southern Health and Social Services Trust (SHSCT) –  in order of population size since the start of the Southern Trust in 2007 were in 2018 : Newry & Mourne (105,693); Craigavon ( 101,489); Armagh (62,976); Dungannon (62,666), and Banbridge(50,717) NISRA 2018 * Note: Newry & Mourne is ONE single LGD.

<Important>:

There are 5 LGDs/localities in SHSCT – NOT 3 Localities or Local Government Districts.

They are as follows:

(1) Newry & Mourne: ONE LGD,

(2) Craigavon: one LGD

(3) Banbridge: one LGD ,

(4) Armagh one LGD,

and  (5) Dungannon :one LGD. 

THERE IS NO SUCH LGD/LOCALITY AS ‘ARMAGH/DUNGANNON’ or ‘CRAIGAVON/BANBRIDGE.’

Southern Trust/ SLCG Populations

1995 Southern Trust /Southern Local Commissioning Group SLCG Populations: Newry & Mourne (84,035); Craigavon (77,689); Armagh (52,675); Dungannon (46,958) and Banbridge(37,427) NISRA 1995.

2010 Southern Trust/ SLCG Populations:  Newry & Mourne (99,900); Craigavon (93,600); Armagh (59,400); Dungannon (57,700) and Banbridge  (48,000). NISRA MYE 2010  

2018 Southern Trust/ SLCG Populations: Newry & Mourne (105,693); Craigavon (101,489); Armagh (62,976); Dungannon (62,666) and Banbridge  (50,717) . NISRA 2018

Reference *** Bengoa Expert Panel Report ‘Systems not Structures’, 2016, https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/systems-not-structures-changing-health-and-social-care-full-report

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

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https://savedaisyhillhospital.com/2020/01/15/ni-health-crisis-cut-in-number-of-specialist-acute-hospitals-their-uneven-spread-since-1995-is-a-major-factor/

01.15.20
by

NI Health Crisis – Cut in Specialist Acute Hospitals & their Uneven spread since 1995 is a major factor

Nurses and Health Workers in N. Ireland strike for pay parity, safe staffing levels Dec2019

2019 ended with Northern Ireland’s Health Care in crisis: Patient Waiting lists at record highs, healthcare workers on strike over pay and staffing levels, Nurses from the Royal College of Nursing on strike for the first time in its 103 year history. This ‘crisis’ is recognised by the Royal College of Surgeons, the Royal College of Nursing and Health Unions

NI Nurses and Health Workers province-wide strike January 2020

Health Care workers on strike here have been short changed in comparison with the rest of the UK, on pay and staffing levels. But in terms of Acute Hospital Care, are people in Northern Ireland being treated fairly in the number and location of specialist acute hospitals?

Before NI can start to fix the current Health Care Crisis –some background is necessary to find out how it got to this point.

There were 19 Acute hospitals in NI in 1995 as the map below, reproduced from The Department of Health’s Regional Strategy (1997 – 2002) shows.

Hospital map Northern Ireland with populations 1995 -shows acute hospitals.

According to the Department of Health:

“If the ratio of acute hospitals to population which currently obtains in England were applied to Northern Ireland (1,649,131 in 1995) there would be no more than 10 acute hospitals in NI. Thus many acute hospitals in NI serve much smaller populations than acute hospitals in England.”

Dept. of Health for Northern Ireland Regional Strategy (1997 – 2002)

Direct Rule Health Minister Mr Moss stated in a Hansard Report 5 March 1997:

“The Department’s Regional Strategy for 1997 to 2002 was published last year and envisaged specialised acute hospital services being built around the cornerstone of Northern Ireland’s six major hospitals- the Royal Victoria hospital, the Belfast City hospital, Craigavon, Antrim, Altnagelvin and the Ulster.”

It clearly states also that:

“While investment where appropriate will be made in other hospitals, it is expected that those SIX HOSPITALS will provide the main focus for FUTURE INVESTMENT in INPATIENT FACILITIES.”

Dept. of Health for Northern Ireland Regional Strategy (1997 – 2002) p65

These 6 hospitals out of 19 hospitals were envisaged as specialist acute hospitals, because of hospital size, NOT based on where the largest settlements of population lived, compared to England who the strategy stated would have 10 hospitals for a population the size of NI (1,649,131). The mid-year 1995 NISRA populations (Table) prove this.

They show that Daisy Hill acute Hospital, Newry & Mourne LGD – the FOURTH largest population (84,035) in NI, and Lisburn LGD (106,583), the SECOND Largest population in NI were COMPLETELY IGNORED for consideration as one of 6 major acute hospitals, while 3 other acute hospitals serving SMALLER populations in the local Government Districts of Craigavon, (population 77,689) Antrim (48,489), and Castlereagh (64,616) were listed for preservation.

investment in hospital buildings, acute specialist hospital services, hospital beds and specialist medical staff is needed in the Newry & Mourne area, in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, including in the Emergency Department.
New investment in acute specialist hospital services, hospital beds and specialist medical staff is due in the Newry & Mourne area, in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, including in the Emergency Department.
Doctor examining X-ray -Daisy Hill Acute Hospital Newry Imaging Consultation 2018

Accurate population demographics, as provided by NISRA must inform health planning and future investment in inpatient facilities across NI

This trend of ignoring population size has continued into the present (as the next post will show), so to truly combat the Northern Ireland wide health crisis – ACCURATE DEMOGRAPHICS provided by NI Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) must inform health planning. This includes using these official statistics, as presented by NISRA to determine WHERE Specialist acute Hospitals and specialist inpatient and outpatient acute services are located.

Acute Hospital accommodation and services are paid for through Rates and Taxes by everyone, irrespective of where they live in NI – Urban or Rural, everyone is entitled to equality of access to Hospital Care.

Further posts will look at the present and future NI Demographics in relation to location of acute hospital provision.

Official statistics, as presented by NISRA must determine where Specialist acute Hospitals are located in NI.

BACKGROUND
A Short History – Pre Centralisation – In 1995 there were 19 ACUTE HOSPITALS in Northern Ireland. (See Map or Full List at End of post.)

1995: All NI population: 1,649,131*

1995: 15 LARGEST POPULATION SETTLEMENTS IN NORTHERN IRELAND (Statistics from NISRA*)

(1st) Belfast: 288,932; (2nd) Lisburn: 106,583; (3rd) Derry: 102,123; (4th) Newry & Mourne: 84,035 (5th) Newtownabbey: 78, 426; (6th) Craigavon: 77,689 (7th) North Down: 75,519 (8th) Ards: 68,462 (9th) Castlereagh: 64,616 (10th) Down: 61,441.
[(11th) Ballymena: 58,039 (12th) Fermanagh: 55,405 (13th) Coleraine: 54,176, (14th): Armagh: 52,675 (15th) Antrim: 48,809 [NISRA]*

19 ACUTE HOSPITALS IN 1995 NI (Alphabetical order)
Altnagelvin (Derry); Antrim; Ards; Banbridge; Causeway (Coleraine); City (Belfast); Craigavon; Daisy Hill (Newry); Downe; Erne (Enniskillen); Lagan Valley (Lisburn) ; Mater (Belfast); Mid-Ulster(Magherafelt); Route (Ballymoney); Royal Group (Belfast); South Tyrone; Tyrone County (Omagh); Ulster (Castlereagh); Whiteabbey (Newtownabbey).

Sources:
NI Regional Strategy for Health and Social Wellbeing (1997- 2002) ‘Health and Wellbeing into the Next Millennium’

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11.25.19
by

NI Stroke Consultation: Call for Dept. of Health to Assess for Population Health and Rural Needs as Next phase of Work

NI Stroke Consultation -Call for Dept. of Health to Assess for population health and Rural Needs

Dept.of Health NI have stated in Hospital Reconfiguration Update Nov 2019 that 19,000 responses were submitted to NI ‘Reshaping Stroke Care’ Centralisation proposals and 4,500 responses received on proposed centralisation of NI Reshaping Breast Assessment Services.

The Department’s plans to proceed after these two consultations differ radically with a plan to carry out a Population Health Needs Assessment for BREAST ASSESSMENT but NOT FOR STROKE SERVICES.

The two statements on (1) Stroke and (2) Breast Assessment services appear below.
(1) Statement on ‘Reshaping Stroke Care’ services:

“A consultation on improving stroke services to improve outcomes launched in March 2019. The consultation document set out seven commitments to improve stroke care across the stroke pathway, alongside six potential options for the establishment of a hyperacute stroke network in Northern Ireland.
19,000 consultation responses were received. The Department is currently analysing consultation responses to inform the development of a preferred model for stroke care.”

Dept. of Health NI (DoH) 2019 Hospital Reconfiguration Update

(2) Statement on ‘Reshaping Breast Assessment Services’ :
“A consultation on proposals to improve breast assessment services ran from 25 March to 30 August 2019.
Over 4,500 responses have been received. The Department is currently analysing all responses. This will help to inform the next phase of work to review breast cancer treatment services which is commencing with a Population Needs Assessment. Further details will be announced in the weeks ahead.

Dept. of Health NI (DoH) 2019 Hospital Reconfiguration Update
Official statistics, as presented by NISRA must determine where Specialist acute Hospitals are located in NI.

POPULATION HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT VITAL FOR BOTH STROKE SERVICES AND BREAST CANCER SERVICES.

The Department’s plan to carry out a “Population Health Needs Assessment” for Breast Cancer services as a next phase of work is a good proposal, but where is the plan to carry out a Population Health Needs Assessment for specialist emergency, inpatient, outpatient and rehabilitation treatment for Stroke Services covering the complete stroke pathway – across NI? THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ONE.

A failure to carry out accurate Population Needs Assessments for health services is a recurring theme in the Southern Trust area – NO NEEDS ASSESSMENT WAS UNDERTAKEN as part of the SOUTHERN TRUST STROKE CONSULTATION in 2014.

Despite this, the 2016 Full Bengoa Expert Panel Report used the controversial proposed removal of Specialist Acute Stroke services, and its specialist Acute Stroke staff, from Daisy Hill acute Hospital in Newry as the prime local Case Study for Centralising Stroke Services in NI.

The full Bengoa Report inappropriately promoted (quote below) the choice of Craigavon Hospital for a Specialist Stroke Unit, singled out ahead of all other NI hospitals, and WITH NO NEEDS ASSESSMENT.

This was proposed to make sure that Craigavon could have a 24/7 specialist Stroke Centre leaving Daisy Hill Newry without its existing life saving combined specialist Acute Rehabilitation Stroke Unit and its valuable specialist stroke staff.

“In 2014…, a decision was taken to create a single specialist stroke inpatient unit within the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, at Craigavon Area Hospital. The Trust is proposing to provide a consistent and specialist service 24/7 in one centre rather than spreading the specialist team of staff across four sites. Daisy Hill Hospital will continue to provide ongoing rehabilitation and support through community stroke teams working to a regionally agreed care model.”

Bengoa Expert Panel 2016 (Full Report) (pg 72/ 73).

WHY ASSESS NEED?

Population Needs Assessments are widely recognised as a statutory requirement for health commissioning across the UK to ensure fairness and to reduce inequalities. A Needs Assessment is absolutely vital to ensure that immediate access to stroke services is available for all NI stroke patients – not just those attending hospitals confirmed in all six options in the urban areas of in and around Belfast namely the Royal, Craigavon and Altnagelvin.

POPULATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT DATA MUST USE OFFICIAL NISRA STATISTICS

This Needs Assessment must be undertaken using accurate NISRA Local Government Districts Demographics – not by using (1) imaginary theoretical demand of 600 stroke patients to certain hospitals or (2) Integrated Care Partnerships (which vary across local government districts).

Neither is an accurate statistical representation of the POPULATION health needs of an area.

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

DEPT. OF HEALTH N.I. ARE FAILING TO ADDRESS THE HEALTH NEEDS OF NEWRY & MOURNE POPULATION

(1) Newry & Mourne LGD is consistently the HIGHEST POPULATION IN THE SOUTHERN TRUST OPERATIONAL AREA

(2) Newry & Mourne LGD is consistently the 4TH HIGHEST POPULATION IN NI -SINCE c1972

Newry and Mourne locality has always been the largest population of the 5 localities (LGDs) in the Southern Trust and must have investment for a Specialist Acute Hospital.

The DOH, PHA, HSCB and Commissioners need to take action to assess Population Health Needs and provide services for Newry & Mourne former LGD , (which includes South Armagh) both as:

(1) Newry & Mourne has been the consistently largest local government district that remains in the operational area of the Southern Trust since its inception in 2007. NISRA demographics confirm this.

Latest official population stats for the 5 LGDs in the operational area of the Southern Trust

(1)Newry & Mourne ( 105,693*); (2) Craigavon ( 101,489*); (3)Armagh(62,976*) (4) Dungannon (62,666*) and (5) Banbridge (50,717*) [ [2018* NISRA]. This has been consistently ignored by the Southern Trust since they came into operation in 2007.

(2) Newry &Mourne LGD has always been the 4th highest LGD population in NI since 1972 (for nearly 50 years) after only Belfast, Lisburn (Greater Belfast ) and Derry.

(3) NISRA demographics confirm the Newry & Mourne population is projected to be the 3rd HIGHEST LGD POPULATION IN THE WHOLE OF NI BY 2023 with 110,090 population after only (1st)Belfast (289,130) and (2nd) Lisburn (Greater Belfast): 133,106. Derry is projected to be the 4th highest population in NI with 110,028 (NISRA).

These demographics were not considered in the ‘Reshaping Stroke Care’ Consultation or by the Southern Trust. A population Health Needs Assessment using accurate statistics will show the DoH the population health needs within Newry & Mourne, including needs for specialist stroke services.

A Population Health Needs Assessment (at local Government District Level) using accurate NISRA demographics will show quite clearly the continued need for specialist Stroke staff in Daisy Hill acute Hospital combined Stroke Unit, in order to provide time crucial emergency, acute and rehabilitation stroke care for the Newry & Mourne population and further afield within the same time frame as in urban areas in NI.

Centralisation of stroke services to one area in Craigavon will not provide safe stroke care in Newry & Mourne and will cost lives.

Act FAST Stroke - HyperAcute Stroke Unit for Newry 2019

PHASE OF WORK REQUESTED:

CALL FOR THE DOH, PHA, HSCB and COMMISSIONERS TO:

1. Conduct a Full Population Health Needs Assessment at individual Local Government District level (not at Trust level) using official NISRA Statistics – not Administrative stats such as Integrated Care Partnerships or theoretical modelled hospital demand.
2. Carry out Full Rural Impact Assessment (Rural Needs Act 2016)
3. Carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment to assess the Carbon Footprint implications of Centralisation
Then
4. Rewrite the Stroke Consultation and Stroke Options following these assessments, based on population needs, along with the Consultation Responses.

WHY THE STROKE OPTIONS NEED TO BE RE-WRITTEN

Under “Change or Withdrawal of services” – ALL 8 existing specialist Acute Stroke Units (including Daisy Hill, Newry combined specialist Acute Stroke Rehabilitation Unit) , NOT JUST 6 STROKE UNITS are entitled to be included in an NI wide consultation questionnaire options for upgrading to Hyperacute stroke units and retained as Acute Stroke Units.

The finally selected options must ensure immediate access to Emergency and inpatient specialist stroke Care in a fair and regionally balanced way across NI

>>>>>BACKGROUND

Dept. of Health NI latest Update to NI 2019 ‘Reshaping Stroke Care’ Consultation can be seen at the following link:
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/hrn-newsletter-edition1

For Bengoa Report: Systems not Structures: Changing Health & Social Care (FULL REPORT) (link Below) See pages 72/73
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/topics/health-policy/systems-not-structures-changing-health-and-social-care

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08.20.19
by

Another Call to Action for the Specialist Stroke Unit in Newry: Write for your rights!

  • NI Reshaping Stroke Care Consultation 2019 -Write for Right to Life at Daisy Hill Specialist Stroke Unit Newry

Suggested Answers to the RSC Consultation NOW AVAILABLE – including the Extra 5 Equality, Human Rights & Rural impact Questions

As the 2019 Stroke Consultation Deadline is Fri 30th August, Daisy Hill’s campaign for Hyperacute Stroke Unit status continues, with a renewed call for action for the people of Newry & Mourne, South Armagh,  South Down and surrounding areas.

Based on demographics Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry should be confirmed as a location for a Hyperacute and Acute Stroke Unit – so Suggested Answers to Reshaping Stroke Care are now ready to Download for sending back to the Department.

If you want to help but haven’t submitted any Response to the Consultation, OR if you have already signed a Support Our Stroke Services Questionnaire and need to answer the Equality Questions, both documents are available below.

1. For those YET TO REPLY to Re-shaping Stroke Care 2019 Consultation

ALL Questions Suggested Answers Version 1 (Complete Questionnaire)  is available to download and save as a new filename from this Link: All Qs Answers Reshaping Stroke Care questionnaire

OR

2. For Those who have Responded to the first Questions but not the EQUALITY\ RURAL IMPACT QUESTIONS in Reshaping Stroke Care 2019

5 EQUALITY Q’s ONLY Questionnaire is available to download and save as a new Filename from this link: 5 Equality Qs answers Reshaping Stroke Care Questionnaire

These Suggested answers are already typed onto the RSC Questionnaire in Word Format for easy access for you to download and read.  

The Answers are only intended to be a Guide for your own Answers – but if you agree with these and find it useful and time-saving– you can use all or part of the content.  You can type changes directly onto the Questionnaire, (adding or delete as you wish!) It is recommended that you do make some changes so they are not all identical. Please remember to add your name/address/email address too.

After Downloading, please remember to ‘Save As’ and Give the document a new filename – perhaps adding your Initials or Surname. For e.g. RSC_Questionaire_All_JSmith_2019

The Original RSC blank Questionnaire is available from the Department of Health NI website :  https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/reshaping-stroke-care . Click on ‘Reshaping Stroke Questionnaire’(Word doc) and save.

DIFFERENT WAYS TO RESPOND  

(1) EMAIL: Email your Questionnaire \answers to the Department of Health at:  StrokeConsultation@health-ni.gov.uk

(2) ONLINE: You can copy and paste some or all the Reshaping Stroke Care ‘suggested answers’ plus add your own comments onto the online questionnaire at:

https://consultations.nidirect.gov.uk/doh-healthcare-policy-group/reshaping-stroke-care-saving-lives-reducing-disabi/consultation/intro/

(3) BY POST (using First Class Stamp) post (before 4.30pm Wednesday 28th August 2019 at the latest) to:                

Reshaping Stroke Care, Hospital Services Reform, Department of Health, Annexe 3, Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate, Belfast BT4 3SQ    

If you know people that would like to respond to the Consultation, that do not have a computer or do not wish to respond online, forms are available from the Department of Health.

To get a form posted to you: Phone (028) 9076 5643 and ask for a RESHAPING STROKE CARE Consultation Questionnaire. It is advisable to do this as soon as possible as All Responses must be received by the DOH before the Deadline of Friday 30th August 2019 @5pm.

All the Consultation Documents (including the Questionnaire Form are available online at   https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/reshaping-stroke-care

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

THIS ACTION IS TO FURTHER SUPPLEMENT THE EXCELLENT WORK ALREADY DONE BY SUPPORT OUR STROKE SERVICES COMMITTEE

As you know, another Campaign Group, Support Our Stroke Services Committee organised Community Outreach events over the summer in Shops, Shopping Centres and local places to encourage people to sign Questions from the Online Questionnaire.  These Questionnaires supported the community goal to ensure that Daisy Hill Acute Hospital both retains its acute specialist Stroke Unit and is elevated to a Specialist Centre with Hyperacute Stroke Unit.

Many thousands signed these Consultation Questions up to the Alternative Option Question, but answering the remaining Equality & Human Rights Questions is an absolutely vital part of this whole process.

The flawed Department of Health Consultation Questionnaire prevented access to the Equality Questions previously, as these Questions could only be reached once you had selected one of the Options and every one of them excludes Daisy Hill Hospital.

Now with the Extended deadline – we have the opportunity to supplement the ‘Support Our Stroke Services’ Committee facilitated Questionnaires by submitting the rest of the 5 Equality Questions to support the need for a Hyperacute Stroke Unit in Daisy Hill, Newry.

  • People power through Consultations -Based on demographics Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry should be confirmed as a location for a Hyperacute and Acute Stroke Unit
  • The united community of Newry and Mourne and South Armagh will work together to ENHANCE stroke services in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital
  • Act FAST Stroke - HyperAcute Stroke Unit for Newry 2019

The people from Newry & Mourne, South Armagh,  South Down and surrounding areas, still stand together to challenge the flawed Consultation document which deliberately excluded Daisy Hill’s specialist combined Acute Stroke Rehabilitation Unit from the proposed Options in Reshaping Stroke Care, but every-one of us need to continue to put the case in writing.

STILL NEED CONVINCING?

Time is Brain - Urban and Rural -None of the Options in the NI Stroke Consultattion are best for all of NI. Every minute matters during a stroke says London Stroke Strategy.

The DoH states that the proposals will have MINOR IMPACT in NI. This is not the case in Newry & Mourne, Down and South Armagh area where there will be MAJOR IMPACT on the lives of stroke patients.

There will be removal of scanning, administration of the crucially time dependant clot-busting drug Alteplase and removal of direct access into a specialist acute stroke rehabilitation unit from Daisy Hill acute Hospital as if it never existed.

This includes losing existing direct access to the Royal for Thrombectomy from Daisy Hill Hospital.

Your life could depend on it.

We must challenge the Department of Health by answering this Consultation – The more the better to get the message through loud and clear. We can do it with YOUR help.

WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER !

Thank you.

Daisy-Hill-still-needs-you!-call-to-action-for-the-specialist-stroke-unit-in-Newry

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

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

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

© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2019. Thank-you!