LAST DAY! CLOSES TODAY! Sat 28th June 5pm. STILL TIME to Write For your Equality Rights & Help Daisy Hill Hospital:: Doh Draft Equality & Disability Public Consultation 2025
>The deadline is TODAY – so Please reply by closing date this Saturday 28th June 2025@5pm.
(Full Consultation Information is available from the Background / Links section at the end of the page.)
Click on the LINK below to go to the Webpage to make an Online Response to the Draft Equality & Disability Action Plans 2025-2030‘
Scroll to ‘Give your Views’ > Online Consultation.
Note: As you work through the form, click Continue to go on to the next Question.
The Consultation Closes on Saturday 28th June at 5pm.
BACKGROUND / LINKS
The link below is the main Consultation link from the Department of Health website It gives all documents including main report, and all Appendices. Consultation Questionnaire Word document all available to download and read. LINK ********DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ONLINE CONSULTATION LINK – CLICK BELOW
There are 3 WAYS TO RESPOND to Department of Health Draft Equality & Disability Action Plans Consultation 2025 – 2030
1>By Email > Send your completed Questionnaire by email to the Department by attaching the Consultation Questionnaire to the email address: equality&humanrights@health-ni.gov.uk
2>By Online Questionnaire
Click on the Online Questionnaire link below and scroll down to and click ‘have your say’
3>By Post > A hard copy of your response Questionnaire can also be sent in Writing to:
Write to: Equality and Human Rights Unit, Castle Buildings, Stormont, Belfast,
Northern Ireland, BT4 3SQ
By the Closing Date of Saturday 28th June 2025 by 5pm.
For Enquiries on the Department of Health Draft Equality & Disability Action Plans Consultation 2025 – 2030 the contact email is: equality&humanrights@health-ni.gov.uk
Department of Health General Telephone number is : Telephone: 028 9052 0500
WHY ANSWER THIS CONSULTATION?
Why? Newry, is the Gateway to NI on the TENS European Road, Rail, and Sea economic corridor where hundreds of thousands travel through (mainly by road) yearly. Yet, vital Regional Emergency Services including Emergency Surgery was withdrawn permanently from Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry (without Regional Public Consultation.) Regional Emergency Surgery and Emergency medical inpatient beds needs to be provided, not removed from Daisy Hill acute hospital, Newry to make sure there is timely access to Emergency Services for all patients, (locals and visitors alike) including for potential road, work, and farm accidents. There is Geographical inequality here, as access to timely life saving emergency treatment is denied to many large populations. This must be changed.
We must put our objection down in writing as part of this consultation to the singling out of Daisy Hill Hospital for downgrading of Regional Inpatient Hospital services which will remove time critical equitable access to some vital Regional Emergency Services (and specialist acute inpatient services always provided in Daisy Hill Hospital) that the population of Newry Mourne and Down have vital need for and have paid for.
Thank you. Please Share if you think this will help someone else take part in this very important Consultation for the future of Daisy Hill Hospital and its dedicated staff.
Information on this and other similar topics is also available at the companion Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/daisyhillforlife/ Please Follow or Like the Page to receive updates. Thank you.
New Shorter Suggested answers to read or use with official Department of Health ONLINE Consultation Questionnaire for ‘Hospitals – Creating a Network for Better Outcomes’
(Full Consultation Information is available from the Background / Links section at the end of the page.)
Click on the LINK below to go to the Webpage to make an Online Response to the Department of Health Public Consultation: ‘Hospitals – Creating a Network for better outcomes’
Note: You don’t have to answer the Extra Comment Questions in the ONLINE Questionnaire, you can just select the STRONGLY DISAGREE buttons etc and click Continue to go on to the next Question – but to help make the case why Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry should not be downgraded and is entitled to be made into an AREA HOSPITAL, Shorter suggested answers are available here, which can be copied and pasted onto the Questionnaire as required.
If you only give an answer explanation to one Question, please ANSWER the ONLINE Q10 (which asks what this DOH Hospital Network Consultation has missed) and please state the need that Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry is entitled to be made into an Area Hospital. (Answer Available below)
NEW SHORTER READY REFERENCE SUGGESTED ANSWERS (ONLINE )
READY REFERENCE SUGGESTED ANSWERS (ONLINE Qs 1- 19)for DOH ONLINE Consultation Questionnaire for ‘Hospitals – Creating a Network for Better Outcomes’
Questions are numbered Q.1 – Q.19 on the Online Survey Version of Questionnaire (Different no’s to the Word Document version of the Questionnaire)
ONLINE Q1. What is your name? ONLINE Q2. What is your email address? ONLINE Q3. Are you responding as an individual or on behalf of an organisation, please highlight the most relevant option:
(Choose your own answer from the list of – Member of the general public / Service user/ Family carer / Social care worker/ Social worker etc or Voluntary & Community sector option and so on.)
ONLINE Q4. If you selected ‘Other’ Please specify the name of the Organisation, Voluntary & Community sector, Private Company or Public Body:
ONLINE Q5. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the explanation within the framework of why we need to change how our hospitals function?
Answer Q5. STRONGLY DISAGREE
ONLINE Q6. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the description of the type of Northern Ireland hospitals as presented in the framework that build towards a Hospital Network? These are: Local Hospitals, Area Hospitals, General Hospitals and Regional Centres. Note: The detailed description each type of hospital is on page 4 of the consultation document.
Answer Q6 STRONGLY DISAGREE
ONLINE Q7 To what extent do you agree or disagree with the ‘core services’ identified for the different types of hospitals, especially for the area hospitals and three general hospitals?
Answer Q7. STRONGLY DISAGREE
ONLINE Q8 To what extent do you agree or disagree that the proposed list of actions identified in the framework are the correct ones to create a more sustainable hospital network in Northern Ireland?
Answer Q8. STRONGLY DISAGREE
ONLINE Q9 Taking into account the proposals set out in the framework and the answers you have provided above; do you think there is anything we have missed?
ANSWER Q9 YES
ONLINE Q.10 If your answer is Yes, please provide further detail and explanation below:
ONLINE Q. 10 ANSWER
Based on actual population data and other factors Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry should have been made into an ‘Area Hospital’ and not a ‘General Hospital.’ For example: Population Fact 1: Of the 17 GP Federations in NI, Newry & District has the 2nd highest number of patients (161,308) registered with GP Federations after only Derry, since 2017. (Source: DOH 2023/24).
This Consultation does not value the importance of the need for TIMELY access to ‘Accident & Emergency’ treatment where every minute counts (which includes for Stroke, Heart and Emergency Surgery) as well as accident victims in comparison to accessing ‘non emergency’ treatment like elective care.
ONLINE Q.11 To what extent to do you agree or disagree that the proposed list of actions in the framework will improve the experience and outcomes for service users in Northern Ireland?
Answer Q11. STRONGLY DISAGREE
ONLINE Q12. To what extent to do you agree or disagree that the framework explains how reconfiguration decisions are taken?
Answer Q12. STRONGLY DISAGREE
ONLINE Q13. To what extent do you agree or disagree that the framework explains how you will be engaged as part of the decision making process?
Answer Q13. STRONGLY DISAGREE
ONLINE Q14. Please explain the reason for your answer and provide any additional comments below – **You do not have to give an answer here unless you want to add something
ONLINE Q15.Taking into account the answers you have provided; if you have any further comments on any aspect of this framework or the proposed actions please include below.
Answer ONLINE Q15.
If the hospital network is to be changed with ‘Area Hospitals’ at the heart of the system, then based on the health needs of Newry & Mourne Area which has had a consistently high population since 1971 to present – Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry now located in the 3rd largest council in NI (Newry Mourne and Down) should be enhanced to be a ‘Area Hospital’ and maintain “a 24/7 Emergency Department, a 24/7 Emergency surgery and anaesthetic rota and theatre, and be supported by a critical care unit”.
Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry should also have secured for the LONG TERM future the same broad range of specialist inpatient services as the ‘Area Hospitals’ described in this consultation including Paediatrics and Obstetrics.
(Newry Mourne and Down Council has a current population of approx 182,634 (NISRA 2022)
Equality and Rural Needs Assessments
ONLINE Q16. A) Do you agree or disagree with the Draft Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA)?
Answer Q16: FULLY DISAGREE
ONLINE Q17. Please provide comments below:
ANSWER -ONLINE Q. 17:
I fully disagree. These proposals and mitigating actions’ are not just or fair and will not deliver ‘health care equity’ across NI. According to this Equality document, ‘Travel support’ will be needed for most of the named Equality groups to access this new hospital network, so these proposals don’t keep to Equality rules or Human Rights. Responsibilities for accessing timely ‘Emergency’ treatment (which includes Emergency surgery) services are bypassed onto other external department’s including the Department for Infrastructure (Transport ) Also ‘Good Relations’ between communities / councils across NI will not be fostered under these proposals.
There are serious concerns regarding ‘healthcare equity’ for the population in Newry Mourne and Down (NMD). Under these consultation proposals, the population of Newry Mourne and Down will NOT have timely access to 24/7 INPATIENT Emergency Care TREATMENT. The Department of Health and others have a duty of care to continue to provide a Specialist Acute Hospital in Newry, with inpatient beds, specialist inpatient Services and 24/7 Consultant Led Emergency surgery and Emergency Medical services based on a Population Needs Assessment. This will ensure equitable access to specialist Acute Hospital services for the growing population in Newry Mourne and Down LGD – the 3rd largest LGD population in NI: current population approx 182,634 (NISRA 2022).
ONLINE Q18 B) Do you agree or disagree with the Draft Rural Needs Impact Assessment?
ANSWER Q18 b) FULLY DISAGREE
ONLINE Q. 19: SUGGESTED ANSWER
I fully disagree with the Draft Rural Needs Impact Assessment as these proposals will create worse health outcomes for all rural populations. Approx 36%* population of NI live in a rural area including in Newry Mourne and Down (NISRA 2020*). As the meaning of equity is ‘something that is just and fair’, this policy will not improve ‘healthcare equity’ as it aims to do, as rural residents in NI will NOT be able to “access TIMELY, high-quality care.”
Under the 2016 Rural Needs Act, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and the Dept of Health have a duty of care to make sure the health and economic needs of the rural community are fully met and are entitled to be included, not deprived of the economic prosperity that being included in an Area hospital Network brings.
The Rural Impact document (page 4) has completely ignored the impact the proposals would have on Jobs, Employment, Education, Training, Poverty, and Deprivation in Rural Areas and Rural Development.
The location of the 5 proposed ‘Area Hospitals’ all with 24/7 Level 1 ED (Altnagelvin, Antrim, Craigavon, Belfast Hospitals Campus and Ulster Hospital) are concentrated within half hour of Belfast, and in Derry. Only the population in these urban areas will have TIMELY access to 24/7 Level 1 Consultant Led INPATIENT EMERGENCY CARE TREATMENT, the rural areas will NOT have TIMELY access.
Section 75 Equality Questions (optional) ONLINE Q 20 – 28 (These are Optional but you have to either select ‘Prefer not to say’ option or choose an answer to continue.
END OF QUESTIONS **** QUICK SUMMARY
Online Q1-4 Personal Information Online Q5-8 STRONGLY DISAGREE Online Q9. YES Online Q10 Add Comments if you want – see Suggested Answers above Online Q11-13 STRONGLY DISAGREE Online Q14 & 15. Add Comments if you want – see Suggested Answers above. Online Q16 STRONGLY DISAGREE (Equality Impact Assessment) Online Q17 Add Comments if you want – see Suggested Answers above. Online Q18 STRONGLY DISAGREE (Rural Needs Impact Assessment) Online Q19 Add Comments if you want – see Suggested Answers above.
ONLINE Q 20 – 28Section 75 Equality Questions (optional) 20. Religious belief 21. Political opinion 22. Race 23.Gender 24.Marital status 25. Age bracket 26. Disability 27. Dependants 28. Sexual Orientation
(These are Optional but you have to either Select your answers for these or select ‘Prefer not to say’ option to continue.
END OF QUICK SUMMARY
The Consultation Closes on Friday 28th February at 5pm.
BACKGROUND / LINKS
LINK ********DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ONLINE CONSULTATION LINK – CLICK BELOW
The link below is the main Consultation link from the Department of Health website for the ‘Creating a Network for better outcomes’ Consultation . It gives all documents including main report, Rural Impact and Equality Impact Assessments, Consultation Questionnaire Word document all available to download and read.
For your convenience, these Answers in this article can be read by downloading a handy Ready Ref Sheet – Word Document ‘V8 Shorter Ready Ref Answers Sheet for ONLINE Q’s DOH’ file below.
For people who prefer to Email a seperate copy of the Questionnaire via Email – an updated version of the Full Questionnaire is available to download below. (You will need to add your own Answers to the Personal Details Questions at the beginning – please see further reading for more info)
ALTERNATIVE MICROSOFT WORD VERSION of Full Questionnaire (Prefilled – Short Answers) for Emailing
For more Information about this Consultation and How to Take Part – see links below.
Thank you. Please Share if you think this will help someone else take part in this very important Consultation for the future of Daisy Hill Hospital and its dedicated staff.
Information on this and other similar topics is also available at the companion Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/daisyhillforlife/ Please Follow or Like the Page to receive updates. Thank you.
DAISY HILL HOSPITAL NEWRY IS ENTITLED TO BE CATEGORISED AS AN AREA HOSPITAL – FACTS FROM GP REGISTERS
The case for RETAINING not WITHDRAWING specialist Acute Services and 24 /7 Consultant Led Emergency Services in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City is very strong and evidence based.
This is why these Emergency and Specialist Acute services were always in Daisy Hill in the first place as recognised in 2003 under Developing Better Services Hospital Network Consultation when Daisy Hill was designated as one of 9 Acute Hospitals, of equal status, with 24/7 Consultant Led Emergency Surgical, Emergency Medical, and 24/7 Consultant- led Maternity Services.
But now it seems the case must be made again in the ongoing Department of Health Consultation “Hospitals – Creating a Network for Better Outcomes’, – Why?
Because the Dept of Health, by downgrading Daisy Hill Acute Hospital has failed to recognise the health needs of Newry & District’s* large population size (which covers Newry, South Down and South Armagh areas), failed to take into account the strategic location of Newry and is proposing to make Daisy Hill into a General Hospital with limited services.
This CAN and must be challenged though the Public Consultation process by answering the questionnaire and promoting the need, without delay, for an Area Hospital in Newry.
This is the latest in a series of posts which aims to explain each of the reasons in turn which can be used for people taking part in the written consultation, who can disagree with conviction on the Dept. Of Health proposal for Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry to be demoted into a General Hospital with limited services, and for the public to call instead for an Area Hospital in Newry.
An Area Hospital is needed to give the vast population of adults and children here (especially those who live in rural areas) timely equity of access to inpatient Emergency and Acute hospital services. Details on the Consultation and different categories of Hospital proposed are available from the DOH Website and from Daisy Hill for life website (See link at end)
>THERE ARE 161,308 PEOPLE ON DOCTORS REGISTERS IN NEWRY AND DISTRICT GP FEDERATION (DOH May 2024)
There are currently 17 GP Federations covering all areas of NI. One of their aims is to help deliver the Transformation Agenda in Health and Social Care. There are 29 Registered GP Practices in Newry & District GP Federation, covering Newry, South Down and South Armagh areas.
Newry & District GP Federation includes GP practices in Kilkeel, Crossmaglen, Annalong, Rathfriland, Killeavy, Newtownhamilton, Mullaghbawn, Bessbrook, Warrenpoint as well as Newry.
Out of the 17 GP federations in NI – Newry & District GP Federation has the second highest (161,308) number of registered patients (after only Derry GP Federation) since 2017 (Source: DOH 2023/24).
POPULATION HEALTH NEEDS IN NEWRY & DISTRICT – SERIOUS HEALTH CONDITIONS ARE WIDESPREAD
As well as the large population size, a second important reason, as shown in the picture/graphic is that many people living in Newry & District have a high incidence of serious health needs or health conditions including Heart Failure and Stroke, Coronary Heart Disease, Cancer, Atrial Fibrillation, Hypertension and Kidney Disease. Many of these patients need and are entitled to have equitable timely access to 24/7 Consultant-Led Emergency Surgery and Emergency Medical Care, High Dependency Care and Specialist Acute Inpatient Hospital care in Daisy Hill Hospital.
Data showing 15 health conditions on GP Registers in Newry & District show the vital need for Daisy Hill, Newry to be categorised as an Area Hospital with a 24/7 Level 1 ED as part of the proposed Regional network of hospitals. (Note: all 17 GP Federations have records for the same 15 health conditions*.)
An Area Hospital with 24/7 Level 1 ED at Daisy Hill in Newry is vital to ensure better outcomes for survival and recovery of patients as well as giving timely equity of access also for other health conditions and in Emergency situations that may arise.
As shown in the graphic –in 2024 These GP Registers show that of 15 health conditions (recorded by all GP Federations*) Newry & District GP Federation has:
>*THE HIGHEST number. of patients with Heart Failure, Heart Failure due to Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction and Non- Diabetic Hyperglycaemia.
>*THE 3RD HIGHEST number of Patients with Coronary Heart Disease, Cancer, Atrial Fibrillation, Hypertension and Asthma (after only Derry and East Antrim).
>*THE 4TH HIGHEST number of Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease, Stroke, Diabetes and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
CONCLUSION
Of 17 GP Federations in NI – Newry & District GP Federation (covering Newry, South Down and South Armagh area) has the SECOND HIGHEST number of patients registered with GP Practices in NI since 2017 (161,308 patients ) with many patients having serious health needs.
If the Department of Health had used a Population Health Needs Assessment (at Trust/Local Commissioning Group level), with data on illnesses/conditions taken from the 17 GP Federations including Newry & District GP Federation, the DoH would have acknowledged that Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry was entitled to be categorised as an Area Hospital.
PLEASE TAKE PART IN THE CONSULTATION
Please reply to DOH Hospital Network Consultation 2025 proposals and make the case for vital need for DAISY HILL AREA HOSPITAL.
Full information on the Consultation, and some Suggested answers to the Questionnaire are available from the LINK below:
Please Share this post if you can, to spread the word. Thank you.
BACKGROUND/ LARGE POPULATION SIZE IN NEWRY & DISTRICT
Newry & District GP patient register includes 36,018 children and young people aged U18, the 2nd highest of the 17 GP Federations after only Derry (Source: DOH 2023/24).
*(Source DOH: published May 2024)
ENDS
Information on this and other similar topics is also available at the companion Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/daisyhillforlife/ Please Follow or Like the Page to receive updates. Thank you.
Daisy Hill Hospital for Life 