Tag Archives: Emergency Assessment and treatment

12.04.23
by

OUR HEALTH SERVICE, OUR ACUTE HOSPITALS – PAID FOR WITH OUR PUBLIC MONEY

SoS Daisy Hill Hospital Campaign Rally - another show of community strength in Newry city on 25.06.2023. Estimated 10,000 attended the Rally in Marcus Square, Newry and then walked up to Daisy Hill Acute Hospital.

The most recent full Department of Health Report, ‘Health and Wellbeing 2026: Delivering Together’ brought out by former Health Minister Michelle O’Neill, MLA – stated:

“the Health service belongs to all of us… Everyone who uses and delivers our health and social care services must be treated with respect, listened to and supported to work as real partners within the HSC system.” *

Health and Wellbeing 2026: Delivering Together’ p19

When it comes to any decisions made about Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry and any of the Acute Hospitals here in this NI region, these Principles in Delivering Together and the Rules and Procedures around the spending of public money and the statutory accountability of all who deliver and attempt to withdraw Regional Health public services must be followed.

Emergency Surgery and Acute Stroke Services are REGIONAL Services. They cannot be centralised again from a major Acute Hospital like Daisy Hill without a valid Population Needs Assessment and a full Regional Public Consultation by the Department of Health.  A local or individual Health Trust Consultation is NOT enough to make a decision to withdraw vital Regional Services like Accident and Emergency Surgical or Medical services from one area of NI which is going to have a detrimental adverse effect on the lives of everyone across the NI region.

FAILURE TO FOLLOW DUE PROCESS MEANS THE DECISIONS ARE INVALID.

The local catchment population are asking for and are entitled to fair treatment and continuing access to acute hospital premises when it comes to the availability of Emergency Surgery and Emergency Stroke services in their acute hospital Daisy Hill, Newry City.

CENTRALISED TO NINE MAJOR ACUTE HOSPITALS IN 2003

In 2003, following the Hayes Review and Regional Consultation, Acute Hospital Provision including 24/7 Consultant Led Accident and Emergency Services and Maternity services were Centralised  to nine major acute hospitals. It was recognised by the Department of Health at that time, following the Regional Consultation that the three newly designated acute hospitals in Newry, Enniskillen, and Coleraine, were also needed as well as the so called “Golden Six” to provide timely access to Acute Hospital services as well as ensuring timely access to 24/7 Consultant- Led Emergency Surgery and Emergency Medical Services and Maternity Services to everyone no matter where they choose to live in NI.

All three acute hospitals are situated within predominately rural areas with no nearby acute hospital which can provide timely access to Accident and Emergency and Maternity services.

>FURTHER ACTIONS AND REQUIRED SOLUTIONS

For those wishing to take further action for Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry as a designated Acute Hospital, people can build on the action of the SOS Daisy Hill Hospital Committee who recently drafted a letter to send to the Southern Trust Chief Executive which expressed opposition to the decisions to remove Emergency Surgery and Acute Stroke services from Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry to Craigavon Hospital.

SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR REQUIRED SOLUTIONS:

The Southern Trust must:

>1. Immediately return vital life saving Regional Emergency Surgery and Regional Acute Stroke Services to Daisy Hill.

>2. Invest properly in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry to ensure the large population in Newry & District is provided for and to fulfil their statutory and legal obligations towards Equality, Human Rights, Rural Needs, Rights of the Child, Good relations and Climate Change regulations.

>3. Return permanently specialist acute inpatient beds to Daisy Hill Hospital

>4. Buy permanent major diagnostic equipment for Daisy Hill Hospital and

>5. Recruit properly for staff for Daisy Hill Hospital and stop prioritising Craigavon and (Lurgan (non acute)) Hospitals.

People can keep asking  MLAs, Newry Mourne and Down Council Councillors and officials, local representatives on the Southern Local Commissioning Group, the Southern Trust, DoH NI, Patient Client Council, Public Health Agency,  Equality Commission, Older People’s Commission, Children and Young Peoples Commission for all these five solutions detailed above for Daisy Hill: (1) Return vital services, (2)Investment, (3) inpatient beds, (4) permanent diagnostic equipment and (5) Proper Recruitment for a level playing field for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital Newry because it is true – the health service does belongs to all of us and we must be treated with respect, listened to and supported to work as real partners within the HSC system*

Refs: *(Health and Wellbeing 2026: Delivering Together, Quote p19, Health Minister Michelle O’Neill, MLA

ENDS

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

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

To read more about Acute Hospitals and population need in NI:

Newry & Mourne Local Government District (LGD) Ranks in the Top 4 LGDS in all N. Ireland consistently since 1971 – So where’s the matched Funding for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry?

Are people in Northern Ireland being treated fairly in the number and location of specialist acute hospitals? Read more below:

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

SaveDaisyHillhospital.com and Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook have been created in partnership for the positive promotion of Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry city and to promote the need for expansion of specialist acute services, staff, number of beds, and imaging equipment at Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry city for now and the future.

09.20.23
by

Real Need for Acute Hospital Services and Specialist Acute Inpatient Beds in Newry

There are 160,615 adults and children on GP Registers in Newry & District who depend on timely access to Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City to Consultant Led Emergency Surgery and Emergency Medical Services to save their lives. There is no other nearby alternative Acute hospital with 24/7 Consultant Led ED Department. How many inpatient beds have the Southern Trust left in Daisy Hil acute Hospital to provide for them? Equality needed in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust
Acute Hospital services and specialist acute inpatient beds needed in Newry 2023. Equality needed in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust.

There are 160,615 adults and children on GP Registers in Newry & District who depend on timely access to Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City to Consultant Led Emergency Surgery and Emergency Medical Services to save their lives.  There is no nearby alternative Acute hospital with 24/7 Consultant Led ED Department.

On 1st April 2007 the Southern Trust (Under the 2006 Establishment Order) took over responsibility and accountability to the public (from existing providers Newry & Mourne Health & Social Services Trust) to continue to PROVIDE (NOT TAKE AWAY) hospital accommodation (beds) and Services in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital. 

HOW MANY INPATIENT BEDS HAVE THE SOUTHERN TRUST LEFT IN DAISY HILL ACUTE HOSPITAL, NEWRY TO PROVIDE FOR NEWRY & MOURNE POPULATION IN SEPTEMBER 2023?

There were 249.7 beds in Daisy Hill Hospital in 2010*(Ref1) but by September 2023 the Southern Trust has cut the number of inpatient beds dramatically and is now fast tracking centralisation to Craigavon despite the size and need of the larger population in Newry & District.

Newry & District’s very large population size is proven by the latest official data, as in 2023 Newry & District has the 2nd highest number of patients on GP registers in NI (with 160,615) after only Derry, including the 2nd highest number of children in NI under 18, with (36,228 ). (Ref2*: Source DOH).

The Southern Trust rather than provide hospital accommodation (beds) in Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry – instead recently CUT the number of inpatient beds in Daisy Hill, Newry and then soon afterwards has the insensitivity to put out an appeal to the public for help because high numbers of ill patients need hospital beds due to serious overcrowding in Daisy Hill Hospital and Craigavon Emergency Departments.  (30th August 2023 Extreme Hospital pressures: See end for ‘Public appeal’ link*(Ref 3).

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust, with an income of nearly £945 million public money in 2021/22 has the function in Law to provide hospital accommodation (beds) and services for people in ALL the FIVE local government districts in the Southern Trust operational area (in order of population size, starting with the highest: Newry & Mourne, Craigavon, Armagh, Dungannon and Banbridge).

Yes this is correct – Newry & Mourne LGD has ALWAYS been the highest locality population of the 5 LGDs in the Southern Trust operational area (NISRA) (* Ref4) , however the Southern Trust simply will not allocate the appropriate investment on hospital buildings, services, equipment or staff in Newry & Mourne’s Acute Area Hospital – Daisy Hill.

CONCLUSION

There are unacceptable clear health inequalities in the Southern Trust right now, which must be challenged. 

The Southern Trust is presently providing a 2-tier health system across its two acute hospitals.

For the population of Newry & Mourne the focus is on Acute Care at Home.

>How the Southern Trust are doing this:

The Southern Trust are enhancing ‘ACUTE’ CARE AT HOME services (with patients over 65 years to be cared for in their own homes rather than admitted to hospital), AMBULATORY (SAME DAY) HEALTHCARE and are aiming to provide ALTERNATIVES TO HOSPITAL CLOSE TO HOME as  ABSOLUTE PRIORITIES for the Southern Trust for the POPULATION OF NEWRY & DISTRICT. 

The Southern Trust have drastically reduced specialist acute inpatient beds in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital (DHH), Newry City and their ‘Ambitious’ plan for Daisy Hill aims to prevent and reduce inpatient medical admissions. The Southern Trust wants to transfer acute services from Daisy Hill Hospital to a community treatment centre.

>Meanwhile at the other end of the scale is the SECOND ACUTE HOSPITAL in the Southern Trust – CRAIGAVON.   While Daisy Hill lost beds in 2023 – the Department of Health Budget 2023-24 proposed EXTRA BEDS & PERMANENT DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT FOR CRAIGAVON HOSPITAL AND ENHANCEMENT AFTER ENHANCEMENT.  The Southern Trust steam on ahead with their unwavering plan for a £400million (2014 estimate) MAJOR NEW HOSPITAL FOR THE SMALLER POPULATION OF CRAIGAVON.

“Equality means treating people fairly and making sure they have the same chances at life.” According to the HSC Equality Action Plan 2023-28 – but how is this 2-tier health system in the Southern Trust equality?

Hospitals are paid for with public money and the Southern Trust is meant to provide services – not take them away without public consultation. Local authorities must follow the law and be accountable to the people.

REQUIRED SOLUTION:  

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust must:

  1. Invest properly in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry to ensure the large population in Newry & District is provided for and to fulfil their statutory and legal obligations towards Equality, Human Rights, Rural Needs, Rights of the Child, Good relations and Climate Change regulations.
  2. Return specialist acute inpatient beds to Daisy Hill Hospital
  3. Buy permanent major diagnostic equipment for Daisy Hill Hospital and
  4. Recruit properly for staff for Daisy Hill Hospital and stop prioritising Craigavon and (Lurgan (non acute))  Hospitals.

BACKGROUND REFERENCES & ADDITIONAL DATA

Ref 1 249.7 beds in Daisy Hill Hospital in 2010 (*Ref1 : Source DOH 2010)

Ref 2  GP registers in NI Newry & District has 160,615 patients (2nd  highest in NI (after only Derry), including the 2nd highest number of children in NI under 18, with (36,228 ) (*Ref 2: Source DOH 2023)

Ref 3 (30th August 2023 Extreme Hospital pressures: Southern Trust Public appeal link: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=596100106018491&set=a.239622701666235

Ref 4 – Newry & Mourne LGD has ALWAYS been the highest locality population of the 5 LGDs in the Southern Trust operational area. (* Ref4 : Source NISRA). For more information and data on this – pls see: 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/

EXTRA DATA: HOSPITAL INPATIENT BEDS FACTS

(A) INPATIENT BEDS: ALL PROGRAMMES OF CARE (Source DOH 2010 & 2022)

 249.7 Average available inpatient beds in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry.  [1st April 2009 to 31st March 2010].
221.1  Average available inpatient beds in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry.  [1st April 2021 to 31st March 2022].
In September 2023 – how many inpatient beds are left in Daisy Hill acute Hospital, Newry?

(B) INPATIENT BEDS: General Surgery: 1st April 2009 to 31st March 2010 (DOH 2010)

> General Surgery : Daisy Hill: 48.8 average available inpatient beds and 3,036 non elective inpatients
> General Surgery CAH: 85.9 average available inpatient beds and 3,727 non elective inpatients.

 (C) INPATIENT BEDS: General Surgery 1st April 2021 to 31st March 2022 (DOH 2022)
>General Surgery: Daisy Hill: 24.2 average available inpatient beds and 2,089 non elective inpatients
> General surgery: CAH: 70.5 average available inpatient beds and 3,008 non elective inpatients.
(Non elective inpatients =unplanned/emergency). ‘Average Available/Occupied Beds: The average number of available and occupied beds during the year in wards that are open overnight, measured at midnight. Hospitals may also have a number of beds in wards that are only open during the day. Beds reserved for day care admission or regular day admission are not included.’ (Source DOH 2022).

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

SaveDaisyHillhospital.com and Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook have been created in partnership for the positive promotion of Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry city and to promote the need for expansion of specialist acute services, staff, number of beds, and imaging equipment at Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry city for now and the future.

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

THE TIME TO BUILD A MAJOR SPECIALIST ACUTE HOSPITAL IN NEWRY CITY IS NOW
05.08.23
by

Transformed before your very eyes – is the Plan for Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City to be replaced by a Regional Planned Surgery Centre?

It was confirmed by the Clinicians at the recent Emergency Surgery public meeting on the 22nd March 2023 in the Canal Court, Newry that the Southern Trust and Department of Health’s plan is to turn Daisy Hill Specialist Acute hospital into a Regional Elective (planned surgery) Centre. 

Daisy Hill Acute Hospital had been previously designated by Government to provide timely access to 24/7 Emergency Surgery and Emergency Medical Services and Consultant led Maternity Services but the Southern Trust’s Chief Executive confirmed that ‘plans to turn the hospital into an elective overnight stay centre were progressing’ at the Canal Court Hotel public meeting.

BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BECOME A REGIONAL ELECTIVE CARE CENTRE?

Department of Health (DoH) Reports are clear on how they intend to provide elective care (planned surgery rather than Emergency or unplanned treatment). “Hospitals designated as Elective Care Centres will be used for outpatient assessments, diagnostics, day surgery or short stay inpatient surgery UNINTERRUPTED BY EMERGENCY ADMISSIONS.”

The Patient and Client Council have stated that “Elective care centres are specialist STANDALONE units DEDICATED PURELY to the delivery of PLANNED assessment and treatment…In practice, this means providing more treatment on a smaller number of specially designed standalone sites by moving this activity away from the busiest hospital sites.”

If Elective care centres are DEDICATED PURELY to the delivery of PLANNED assessment and treatment (for Regional Consultants and their patients) – what other specialist acute inpatient care services will be provided in Daisy Hill, Newry City FOR THE LONG TERM FUTURE for the 159,599 adults and children on Newry and District GP Registers, should it become an elective care centre? These specialist acute services should include 24/7 Type 1 Emergency Surgery and Emergency Medicine, inpatient paediatric services, HDU, Diagnostics, Maternity etc and clinical staff and inpatient beds (other than for Elective care)

2 STEPS ON THE WAY TO BECOMING A REGIONAL ELECTIVE CENTRE:

STEP 1: REMOVE EMERGENCY SURGERY / STEP 2: REMOVE MORE ACUTE SERVICES 

 (1) The Trust controversially withdrew the life saving Emergency Surgery service from Daisy Hill in Newry city, in Feb 2022 requiring all Southern Trust patients to travel to Craigavon Hospital.  Having after being withdrawn temporarily, the Trust now proposes all life saving Emergency Surgery will be permanently withdrawn from Newry City and will be only provided only in future in Craigavon. This withdrawal of Emergency Surgery service will also assist in the plan to prepare to turn Daisy Hill Hospital into a Regional elective centre.

 (2) The Trust’s next plan is to REMOVE other acute services from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital and send these services to a Community Treatment Centre in Newry. This was announced by Future Group Chairman Dr Patterson at the Canal Court public meeting describing the arrangement with the phrase to “free up space.” (This community centre will be privately and not HSC owned).

>IS THE PLAN FOR DAISY HILL TO BECOME A REGIONAL ELECTIVE CARE CENTRE INSTEAD OF A SPECIALIST ACUTE HOSPITAL?

If so, this proposal is a HUGE change of purpose for Newry & District’s designated Acute Hospital, at Daisy Hill, Newry.  This means that any Regional Surgeon, (either NHS or from a Private hospital),  will come to Daisy Hill for planned (elective) operations on their own regional patients from anywhere in NI  using the existing  operating theatres, beds, staff, and equipment in Daisy Hill. 

Controversial changes such as the change in Status/purpose of ANY of the 9 designated NI Acute Hospitals in NI (including Daisy Hill) from a Specialist Acute Hospital to a Regional Elective Care Centre must go to DOH NI wide Regional public consultation before any such decisions are made.

POPULATION FACTS : THE NEWRY & MOURNE LOCALITY IS THE HIGHEST POPULATION IN THE SOUTHERN TRUST AREA

The former Newry & Mourne locality is one of 5 local government districts in the Southern Trust operational area. Newry & Mourne (which includes South Armagh) IS and ALWAYS HAS BEEN the highest population in the Southern Trust. This population (along with other neighbouring areas and visitors) is served by Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in Newry. 

The NI public pay for Health and Social Care services through Regional Rates bills, Taxes and National Insurance deductions from their wages. The public must be consulted and asked to agree /approve changes to services for which they are paying and have paid to maintain – especially Changes that involve Withdrawal of services from a designated NI Acute Hospital. 

CONCLUSION:


REGIONAL PUBLIC CONSULTATION IS REQUIRED BEFORE DAISY HILL ACUTE HOSPITAL  IS CHANGED TO A REGIONAL  ELECTIVE CARE CENTRE

This is potentially unacceptable further withdrawal of specialist acute hospital services from Daisy Hill Hospital on a massive scale without Consultation or any due regard to the NI Rural Needs Act 2016, Equality Legislation, Fair Treatment and Employment 1998 or Change or Withdrawal of Services and population needs assessment .

Any change in Status/purpose of Daisy Hill from Acute Hospital to Regional Elective Care Centre dressed up as ‘transformation’ or ‘reconfiguration’ must be challenged by the Public and all Elected Representatives who believe In Equality and Timely Access to Healthcare in Newry & Mourne- South Down and South Armagh. This cannot go ahead without NI wide Regional Consultation for scrutiny and evaluation by the NI Assembly and public alike under the 2009 Act before any such decisions are made.

To end the uncertainty surrounding Daisy Hill, and for more information on plans for Newry’s Daisy Hill Acute Hospital and elective care centres –you can ask the local representatives on the Southern Local Commissioning Group, the Southern Trust, DoH NI, and Patient Client Council.

These organisations should be able to clarify and explain in detail what future plans they have for Daisy Hill Hospital and whether the concerns written about here are valid.

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

References and Further Reading:

Patient Client Council, Elective Care in Northern Ireland, 10th July 2019.

 Main DoH NI Elective Care Framework links :   

   
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/elective-care-framework-restart-recovery-and-redesign 

https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/doh-elective-care-framework-restart-recovery-redesign.pdf  (*pgs 24, 63, 74, 75)

Elective Care Framework Restart, Recovery and Redesign 2021

Elective Care, is care that is planned in advance as opposed to Emergency or unplanned treatment. (p24: *Elective Care Framework Restart, Recovery and Redesign 2021).


“This requires commitment from all Trusts that in sites identified as regional elective care centres, that BEDS AND STAFF must be RING FENCED for the delivery of regional elective care.” (p63 *Elective Care Framework Restart, Recovery and Redesign 2021)

“Partnerships and cross-sector collaboration are ESSENTIAL. New services or interventions created, or existing ones that are transformed, WILL NOT ALWAYS BE HSC OWNED.” (p74 *Elective Care Framework Restart, Recovery and Redesign )


“We need more sites providing dedicated elective services that are ENTIRELY SEPARATE from unscheduled care.” ( p75 *Elective Care Framework Restart, Recovery and Redesign )   

More References and further reading to follow soon

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.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

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

Email Address:


© 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.