SOS Daisy Hill group challenge DoH director's 'self-fulfilling prophecies of doom' statement

​It follows a blog post by the Department’s Director of Communications, David Gordon, on the 75th anniversary of the NHS where he warns against ‘self-fulfilling conspiracy theories’.

Mr Gordon writes: “There is a threat to the future of some of our hospitals, but it’s not what you might think.

“It involves what might be called self-fulfilling prophecies of doom.

“These can stem from the best of intentions, but that doesn’t make them any less destructive.”

He explained: “A change to services at a hospital is announced. This is followed by high profile claims that the change is part of a secret long-term plot to downgrade or even close the entire hospital.

“Allegations like this immediately grab headlines. And the conspiracy claims can be impossible to kill off – no matter how many official denials are issued.

“They can often become the central point of ongoing media coverage and public debate about the hospital.

“And the risks grow. The key to delivery of high-quality services is the right number and quality of clinical personnel. The rumours mean retaining clinical staff becomes harder.

With employment opportunities available in other parts of the health service, some existing staff might be tempted to move to another hospital that does not have constant speculation over its entire future.”

He continued: “It’s entirely right and proper to speak up for hospitals, to value the work they do and emphasise the importance of accessibility to services. And also to hold to account those who propose changes.

However, it’s an indisputable fact that modern medicine requires increased levels of specialisation by clinicians. And that means some hospital services need to be concentrated in specialised hubs. The days of every hospital providing every service are gone and won’t be coming back.”

The SOS group said that “other medical consultants do not agree with David’s view and state that the current centralisation plans do not necessarily mean better health treatment and confirmed that mortality rates are higher in larger hospitals.

“The safety gradient is away from the big hospitals. The consultant states that any competent surgeon can safely deal with over 80% of all acute admissions in the small hospital.

“Only 20% of Acute admissions to the smaller hospital requires super specialised care. The argument to maintain Acute Services at Daisy Hill Hospital outweigh proposals to move services.

“All acute hospitals need A&E, an ICU and General Surgery if they are to provide quality health services.

The proposals requiring people from the Newry, South Down and South Armagh should not be forced to travel longer distances to receive treatment and put their health under unnecessary risk.”

Referring to a paper by l. Vaughan from the Nuffield Trust where it is stated that centralisation of medical services “are not the way forward and details other studies that do not support centralisation of services”, the group says other European Countries who centralised their medical services realised it was the wrong thing to do and are reverting to the old style smaller hospitals.

“Surely our Department of Health should listen to evidence based data and rather than taking knee-jerking decisions? Look at the recent evidenced based data and provide international quality health services for our community,” they conclude.

Mr Gordon’s full post can be read on the Department of Health’s website.