SOS Daisy Hill to take Judicial Reviews over emergency general surgery decision

It comes following last week’s decision by the Department to rubber-stamp the Southern Health and Social Care Trust decision to permanently consolidate emergency general surgery services at Craigavon Area Hospital.

Emergency general surgery had been split across Craigavon and Daisy Hill Hospital until a shortage of general surgery consultants led to the temporary suspension of provision at Daisy Hill. The decision makes that temporary position permanent.

The SOS Daisy Hill Committee held an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss the announcement by the Department’s Permanent Secretary, Peter May.

Committee Chairman, Francis Gallagher, stated, “I am very disappointed with Permanent Secretary’s announcement about the permanent transfer of Emergency Surgery from Daisy Hill Hospital to Craigavon Area Hospital.

"The people of our district have voted against this proposal with nearly 12,000 people responding to the Public Consultation and over 10,000 attending the Public Rally in Newry, to state very clearly they were against the Department and Trust’s proposals.

"Why consult and meet total opposition to your proposals and not listen to the local communities complete opposition to your proposals?

Mr Gallagher also queried why there was a Rural Needs Act in place, only for it to be “ignored”.

He continued, “After considering all options my committee has agreed to support a local person who is finalising a proposal to take two Judicial Reviews against the Department and the health trust.

"The first Judicial Review will challenge the Department’s Review of General Surgery in N. Ireland for failing to conduct a 12 week public consultation on the review which was detailed in the Reviews Term of Reference.

"The second Judicial Review will challenge the decision by the Permanent Secretary to permanently transfer Emergency Surgery from Daisy Hill Hospital to Craigavon Area Hospital, in the absence of a Minister for Health.

"We are continually being told that strategic decisions cannot be taken without a functioning Northern Ireland Assembly and Ministers, so why should the Permanent Secretary be allowed to propose actions which will have a negative strategic impact on the health of residents who live in the Newry, Mourne Down and border regions?”

The committee also congratulated Newry Mourne and Down District Council for proposing a Special Meeting of the Council with the CEO of the Southern Health and Social Services Trust to discuss this proposal and to confirm their opposition to the Permanent Secretary’s decision.