McNulty calls on Sinn Fein to take Health Ministry and reverse Daisy Hill decision

​Mr. McNulty made the remarks after an announcement by the Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health that he has approved the Southern Health and Social Care Trust’s decision to “permanently consolidate emergency general surgery for the Southern area population at Craigavon Hospital and, as a consequence, to make permanent the temporary suspension of the service at Daisy Hill Hospital”.

Newry & Armagh MLA Justin McNulty said: “I find the decision made by the Department of Health appalling. The withdrawal of Emergency General Surgery was put to a public consultation, and of the 12,000 responses, 97% were opposed to the withdrawal. In addition, 10,000 people took to the streets of Newry to march in opposition to the moves – how then can the Department justify approving this decision in light of such overwhelming opposition? It’s a real kick in the teeth for the people of Newry, South Armagh and South Down who have objected so strongly to the proposals to strip vital services from our hospital.

“The bottom line here is that unelected and unaccountable civil servants in the Department of Health are making a decision that impact upon the lives of people in Newry, South Armagh, and South Down. We desperately need for a local Health Minister in post to reverse these dangerous decisions, which is why I have called on Sinn Fein to make it clear that they will grab the Health Ministry with both hands to reverse this decision.

“I am now making that call again. SF need to do the right thing, nominate a Health Minister designate, and signal that they will repel these attacks on Daisy Hill.”