Tag Archives: HSCB

01.15.20
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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
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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

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.

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© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2021. We welcome sharing of this info and the use of excerpts and links, provided that full and clear credit is given to http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com and Daisy Hill for Life with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank-you!

08.20.19
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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!

06.11.19
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Urgent Message to HSCNI: Retain Emergency Stroke Services in Newry Now

Urgent Message to the HSCNI: Retain Emergency Stroke Services in Newry Now (Re: NI stroke Consultation 2019) As Trusted Clinicians confirmed scanning and thrombolysis would remain in Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry city.

There is plenty of Clinical evidence in support of the combined Acute Stroke/Rehabilitation Unit at Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry. Multiple official quotes show that Clinicians, Directors, Chief Executive and the Health Minister in 2014, spoke in favour of keeping all emergency Stroke Services, especially scanning and Thrombolysis (Alteplase – clot busting drugs treatment) in Daisy Hill Hospital.

This evidence from the Southern Trust Stroke Consultation in 2014 is relevant today as Stroke Services in the Southern Trust was used as a local case study in the Bengoa Expert Panel report (2016, p72). This Bengoa Report continues to inform Health Policy in 2019.

The 2014 Consultation questionnaire itself and clinician’s statements made it very clear that emergency services for stroke – Scanning and Thrombolysis would always be in Daisy Hill Hospital. This was reiterated by more official statements in press, minutes and meetings in 2014/15.

Now fast forward to 2019, the people of Newry & Mourne discover that in the latest NI wide Stroke Consultation, the Emergency services for stroke (Scanning and Thrombolysis), that Trusted clinicians had assured them would remain, are proposed for removal from Newry too.
Secondly Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry is completely excluded from the Stroke consultation Options and Questionnaire.

We will not accept this – and we ask the Permanent Secretary to deliver on his promised statement:

“to do better, for the public we serve”

(Source: Department of Health Blog 05.04.2019)

>This urgent message to the HSC Northern Ireland, is to ask them to publicly explain their actions for the proposed Change or Withdrawal of Services from Daisy Hill, Newry – one of the designated acute hospitals in Northern Ireland with 24/7 emergency services.

We urgently request the Health Social Care Northern Ireland (HSCNI) to take action to Retain Emergency Stroke Services in Newry Now.

We need to appeal for Emergency Care for the dying and vulnerable in our society.

Act FAST Stroke - HyperAcute Stroke Unit for Newry 2019

CLINICAL EVIDENCE QUOTE EXAMPLES – supporting Emergency Stroke Care at Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry

Example 1:

“The Southern Local Commissioning Group supported the proposal to retain thrombolysis on both Craigavon and Daisy Hill Hospital sites, given the need to ensure that for those patients who are suitable for this procedure, they receive it within the optimum time.”

(Source: Appendix 1, Southern Local Commissioning Group, March 2015)

Example 2:

“We are proposing that patients who have had a stroke will continue to go to their nearest Emergency department, at Daisy Hill or Craigavon, where they will receive the appropriate specialist assessment. Stroke Thrombolysis, the clot busting drug, can be provided at both sites to the patients who are suitable. This is the same immediate and urgent access to emergency care that patients experience at present.”

(Source: Southern Trust Chief Executive, M. McAlinden, at a meeting with the Newry & Mourne Council representatives, in the presence of senior medical staff and Directors, ‘Chief Executive meets with Newry and Mourne Council Representatives’ Southern Trust Website 21/10/2014)

BACKGROUND
The 2014 decision by the Southern Trust to create a single specialist stroke inpatient unit in Craigavon was widely contested by the people and the Council of the largest locality in the southern Trust – Newry & Mourne. The high performing stroke unit, on Level 6, Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry was the only existing Specialist Acute Stroke Rehabilitation Unit in the Southern Trust.

Newry and Mourne population Rally for enhanced Stroke services at Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in 2015
2015 Rally to Save Stroke Services at Daisy Hill Hospital, Newry was attended by over 10,000.

This appeal for Emergency Care for the dying and vulnerable in our society continues in 2020, so we urgently request the HSCNI to take action to Retain Emergency Stroke Services in Newry Now.

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

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© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2021.

09.24.17
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Time for Health Chiefs to recognise the size and need of the Newry & Mourne locality

The Hospital/ healthcare needs of the Newry & Mourne population must finally be recognised by those who Provide and Commission Services and they need to provide the services IN THE AREA WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED.

This should not be news, as it is obvious to most! But it is news – because those in charge of commissioning these services for Newry & Mourne seem blind to these basic facts.

Newry and Mourne has the highest population and greatest need so must have acute hospital services in Newry and Mourne

Newry & Mourne (one locality or LGD) is projected to have the 3rd highest population in NI by 2023 and has always been (since pre 2008) the largest locality in the Southern Trust, with the GREATEST POPULATION and GREATEST NEED.

Those commissioning health services NOW need to recognise the size of our existing (and growing population) and the lack of capital investment in provision of hospital buildings, acute specialist hospital services, provision of hospital beds and specialist medical staff in the Newry & Mourne area, in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, including in the Emergency Department.

Investment for Newry & Mourne must be as intensive as investment for Craigavon which has a smaller population.

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.

The PATHFINDER NEEDS ASSESSMENT GROUP must also accept this in the needs assessment which they have sent to the Department of Health.

ASSESSMENT OF NEED MUST BE BASED ON ACCURATE POPULATION STATISTICS

Assessment of need must be based on ACCURATE local government NISRA statistics which show Newry & Mourne with the HIGHEST POPULATION in the Southern Trust.

It should NOT be based on numbers of patients being ADMITTED to Daisy Hill Acute Hospital through the Emergency Department.

These figures do not reflect the need here, rather they reflect the lack of beds in the Emergency Department and medical emergency beds.

The Southern Trust have a duty of care to Emergency and Acute patients to provide enough specialist acute services, medical staff and hospital beds in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, as they do in Craigavon hospital.

Here are some facts about our area THAT CAN BE IGNORED NO LONGER. >

These facts and figures show the greatest need for provision of Acute specialist Hospital and Emergency Services and outpatients clinics is in Newry & Mourne and South Armagh. These services must be provided in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City.

NEWRY & MOURNE LOCALITY (LGD) KEY FACTS

(1) Newry & Mourne is projected to have the 3RD HIGHEST POPULATION IN NI by 2023.

(2) Newry & Mourne has ALWAYS had the highest population of the 5 localities in the Southern Trust since pre 2008.

(3) Newry & Mourne has ALWAYS had THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF BIRTHS in the Southern Trust.

(4) Newry & Mourne has ALWAYS had THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF CHILDREN (under 18) in the Southern Trust.

(5) Newry & Mourne in 2016/17 had the highest number of deaths (of under 75s) in the Southern Trust.

THE LIST GOES ON…

DAISY HILL ACUTE HOSPITAL KEY FACTS

There were 259 emergency caesareans in Daisy Hill in 2016/17.

  • In the same year there were 2,420 children admitted through the Emergency Department as inpatients.
  • There were 11,256 inpatients of all ages admitted to Daisy Hill Hospital in 2016/17 through its Medical Emergency Department.
  • Over 52,000 people attended Daisy Hill Emergency Department last year.

CONCLUSION – TIME TO REDRESS THE BALANCE!

These key facts have NOT been accepted by those whose duty it is to commission and provide services, but NOW IS THE TIME TO REDRESS THE BALANCE – it is time for Newry & Mourne to have its correct share of funding.

Any need assessment must accurately represent Newry & Mourne as the largest population in the Southern Trust with greatest need.

The population of Newry Mourne Locality (which includes South Armagh) need acute specialist hospital services, medical staff and hospital beds NOW in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City.

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.

Background Info:

ROLE OF HSCB:

The HSCB Health and Social Care Board through the Southern Local Commissioning Group have to ASSESS HEALTH AND HOSPITAL NEEDS of the FIVE localities or Local Government Districts (LGDs) of Newry & Mourne; Craigavon; Dungannon; Banbridge and Armagh under the 2009 Act.

Their job is to ASSESS NEED and TARGET RESOURCES to those local Government District areas (LGDs) WHERE IT IS MOST NEEDED.

The HSCB must understand the health needs and size of our population and identify inequalities in health and access to services here.

Any needs assessment undertaken must identify and ACT ON health needs in the Newry & Mourne Locality (including South Armagh) and provide specialist acute hospital services ( including in the Emergency Department ) in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital, Newry City, to address these inequalities.

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

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

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

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09.13.17
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Now is the time to make the case for Daisy Hill in the Reshaping Stroke Services Questionnaire

Newry City is the right place for a Hyperacute Stroke Unit and now is the time to get your views in writing to the ones who can make it happen – the Health and Social Care Board, because the Reshaping Stroke Services Pre-Consultation closes tomorrow -Fri 15 Sept 2017 at 5pm.

Please take 10minutes and use this opportunity to help Daisy Hill Acute Hospital and the largest locality in the Southern Trust -Newry & Mourne and South Armagh at long last to get the hospital services they deserve.

But the deadline is 15th Sept by 5pm – so maybe you may need some quick last minute ideas? If so, keep reading, as we have written a SUGGESTED ANSWER SHEET to view or download from this page, for anyone who wishes to use it. To get the sheet now please click on the link that follows > Reshaping Stroke Services Answers

Every person in the house can make the case for Daisy Hill Hospital- by sending views in by email or using the online questionnaire. The more the better to get the message through loud and clear to the HSCB that we wish to see stroke services in Daisy Hill enhanced and we certainly don’t agree with any plans to centralise Stroke Services away from Daisy Hill Acute Hospital to Craigavon.

You can influence this – if you take part.

The HSCB is inviting us all to tell them what we think about their proposals. You can get all consultation docs and questionnaire from http://www.hscboard.hscni.net/stroke/

Make the case for a hyperacute stroke unit in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital Newry - Reshaping Stroke services Pre-consultation 2017

Please write to them with your views but if you’re not sure what to write –or just need some quick inspiration, The Daisy Hill for Life team have prepared a short document with suggested  answers to the 7 questions.

Click on the blue link that follows to view or save it > Reshaping Stroke Services Answers

These answers have been researched and the full explanations are available to see on the Daisy Hill for Life facebook page too if you need to check the reasons why.

After reading the answers we have suggested, if you’re thinking the same way,  – you can copy and paste the answers into the online questionnaire at  www.hscboard.hscni.net/response-form-stroke along with your own comments and answers.

People can also download the Suggested Answers page and copy info from it onto the downloadable word version of the questionnaire you can get from this link then send as an attachment to ReshapingStroke@hscni.net

Before you submit your response – please read the annex of the Reshaping Stroke Services in NI -Pre-consultation Document (p51-52) regarding the confidentiality of responses in the context of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Please remember to add your NAME and ADDRESS – or it will not count.

The last time to submit views is by 5pm on Friday 15th September

Thank you all for all your continuing support – we can do it!
As a community we are strong!

Background info:

“From the time the patient arrives at the door, every minute counts, and the only justifiable delay would be for performing brain imaging studies to exclude haemorrhage and for obtaining a few laboratory tests.- EVERY MINUTE MATTERS DURING A STROKE.”
‘Time is brain’ 13 Saver J L, 2006, ‘Time is Brain-Quantified’, Stroke (37), 263-266.

Newry city is the right place for a hyperacute stroke unit - make the case Reshaping stroke services NI 2017

2019 IMPORTANT UPDATE!

For new 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 – 2017. We welcome sharing of excerpts & links, provided that full and clear credit is given to http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com and Daisy Hill for Life with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank-you!

This website is a free website from WordPress and adverts which appear here are not endorsed or controlled by the Web admin team of Save Daisy Hill Hospital.com

09.10.17
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Time to influence Reshaping Stroke Services 2017

The HSC Board Reshaping Stroke Services NI 2017 Document, states the findings of this  Pre- consultation “will inform the design of a new model for stroke services” for NI. (Pg 4)

YOU CAN INFLUENCE THE FINDINGS

To stop the specialist stroke services in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital being centralised to a ‘proposed’ new Hyperacute stroke unit in Craigavon – we must respond & influence this stroke Pre- consultation.

Make the case for a hyperacute stroke unit in Daisy Hill Acute Hospital Newry - Reshaping Stroke services Pre-consultation 2017

To save our existing stroke services, we suggest you ‘Disagree’ to the proposals until we are given more information on the EXACT LOCATION of the proposed hospitals which will provide specialist inpatient stroke services.

GIVE AN ALTERNATIVE

But we need to give an ALTERNATIVE forward looking PROPOSAL for the retention and enhancement of Daisy Hill Acute Hospital as the location for a Hyperacute stroke unit (HASU), co- located with our existing long established Acute Stroke Rehabilitation Unit, which for decades has saved many lives.

10,000 MARCHED

Newry and Mourne population Rally for enhanced Stroke services at Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in 2015

10,000 of us marched to save stroke services in Newry. Future health care provision is at stake here. If this centralisation of Stroke Services to Craigavon Hospital goes ahead – the Southern Trust will only provide one stroke unit to cater for a population of nearly 400,000 people – the second largest Health Trust in NI.

Newry & Mourne is projected to be the 3rd highest population in NI by 2023 -after only Belfast and Lisburn (Greater Belfast) – we are entitled to a new Hyperacute Stroke Unit – in a NEW LARGE specialist acute hospital in Newry City.

Support Daisy Hill Acute Hospital in the Reshaping stroke services Department of Health NI 2017 consultation. stroke services. Newry and Mourne is the right place for a hyperacute stroke unit.

AS A COMMUNITY WE ARE STRONG IF WE WORK TOGETHER

WE CAN DO THIS
– but we need as many people as possible to speak up for Daisy Hill STROKE UNIT again by responding to the the consultation.

Show your support to the staff of Daisy Hill Acute Hospital and speak up for all stroke patients. Thank you !

Background References:
Centralisation is referred to in the ‘Reshaping stroke Services’ Pre-consultation doc P29/30:

“However, it will be proposed that the number of hospitals admitting stroke patients is reduced in future”

Consultation docs are available at:
http://www.hscboard.hscni.net/stroke/
By telephone: Tel 028 9536 3054

How to respond

Responses should be returned to the Health and Social Care Board by 5.00pm on Friday 15 September 2017.

Email: reshapingstroke@hscni.net

Write to:Reshaping Stroke Services,
Commissioning Directorate,
12-22 Linenhall Street
BELFAST  BT2 8BS

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

© Daisy Hill for Life on Facebook and http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com, 2015 – 2022. We welcome sharing of excerpts & links, provided that full and clear credit is given to http://www.savedaisyhillhospital.com and Daisy Hill for Life with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank-you!

This website is a free website from WordPress and adverts which appear here are not endorsed or controlled by the Web admin team of Save Daisy Hill Hospital.com