Summit confirms 24/7 A&E services for Daisy Hill Hospital
An emergency summit meeting over A&E services at Daisy Hill Hospital has ended with agreement for a 24/7 service.
Last updated 2nd May 2017
The Accident and Emergency Department is under high levels of pressure, with last month seeing reports that it had become unsustainable, due to an over-reliance on locums.
However, after the meeting on Tuesday, the Southern Trust said it had reached a consensus on the way forward.
Interim Chief Executive, Stephen McNally said: "The Trust remains fully committed to delivering safe, sustainable 24/7 emergency services at Daisy Hill Hospital for the foreseeable future.
"We now have the concerted support, from across the Health and Social Care system, to develop a viable plan that will address the immediate pressures and look to stabilise the provision of emergency services at Daisy Hill.
"This will allow the Trust to plan, taking onboard the voice of service users through co-production, and co-design, for the future services to meet the health needs of the people in the Newry and Mourne area."
A Departmental spokesperson added: "All attendees at the summit agreed with the Department that in light of the clinical need, current size and projected growth of the population of Newry and Mourne, acute services need to be retained there.
"Work on achieving that regional approach, in a safe and sustainable way, will now gather pace.
"This immediate pressure on emergency services in Daisy Hill is further evidence of the need for transformation in the provision of health and social care and the future planning of those services at a Northern Ireland level.
"That work also continues, in line with the principles set out in, ‘Delivering Together’ document, launched last October."