Health · Healthcare & Policy · 2 hrs ago
Daisy Hill maternity services to move to Craigavon from 23 November
Daisy Hill hospital in Newry will stop inpatient maternity services from 23 November, with births moved to Craigavon hospital.
Southern Health Trust says it cannot recruit enough consultant obstetricians to safely staff maternity services at both hospitals.
The trust needs eight permanent consultants but expects to have two, alongside three temporary consultants, from the end of November.
The change has faced strong opposition from people in Newry and nearby areas, and is now subject to a legal challenge.
A pregnant woman plans to seek a High Court review to try to delay the move.
The trust has given no date for restoring services at Daisy Hill, although it describes the suspension as temporary.
Craigavon is expected to take on 1,700 additional births, and the trust says it is ready for the increase.
Inpatient maternity services at Daisy Hill hospital in Newry are to be temporarily suspended from 23 November.
Southern Health Trust board members voted to move the services to Craigavon hospital.
The Trust said it could not recruit enough consultant obstetricians to safely staff both hospitals.
The plan has faced significant opposition and is subject to a legal challenge.
The Trust said Craigavon is ready for an expected increase of 1,700 births.
- Who
- Southern Health Trust is moving the services; people opposing the plan include a 40-year-old pregnant woman.
- What
- Inpatient maternity services are to move temporarily from Daisy Hill to Craigavon.
- When
- From 23 November.
- Where
- Daisy Hill hospital in Newry and Craigavon hospital.
- Why
- The Trust said it could not recruit enough consultant obstetricians to safely staff both hospitals.
Southern Health Trust
Opponents of the consolidation plan
Staffing
Southern Health Trust
The Trust said it could not recruit enough consultant obstetricians to safely staff both hospitals.
Opponents of the consolidation plan
They oppose the move; a pregnant woman is seeking a judicial review to try to force a delay.
Service move
Southern Health Trust
The Trust voted to move inpatient maternity services to Craigavon from 23 November.
Opponents of the consolidation plan
People in Newry and further afield, including South Down and South Armagh, have opposed the plan.
Inpatient maternity services at Daisy Hill are due to be temporarily suspended and moved to Craigavon.
A 40-year-old pregnant woman is to lodge judicial review papers at the High Court seeking to delay the plan.
- Start date
- 23 November
- Hospitals
- Daisy Hill in Newry; Craigavon
- Consultant staffing need
- Eight substantive consultants
- Expected staffing at end of month
- Two substantive consultants and three locum consultants
- Expected increase in births at Craigavon
- 1,700
What people are saying
it has exhausted all recruitment attempts.