Members of the Daisy Hill Hospital Action Group who are campaigning for the retention of the Stroke Unit and 24hr A&E services in the hospital have met with Margaret Ritchie. Mr Jerome Mullen and Mr Francis Gallagher met with the South Down representative with Ms Ritchie stating afterwards that the services “are vital for the ongoing health and medical needs of the people of the southern part of South Down and Newry.”
“These services need to be retained in Daisy Hill Hospital,” said the MP. “Originally the Southern Trust told us that stage 1 in stroke care and management could be provided at Daisy Hill trough the application of of Thrombolysis which requires 24hr Accident and Emergency attention. Both services are linked and inter-dependant. Both services need to be retained and developed.”
Ms Ritchie said that access to such services was a “basic requirement” of the National Health Service.
“Local accessibility to medical and health services and facilities delivered at the point of need is vitally important for the people of Warrenpoint, Hilltown, Mayobridge, Burren, Ballyholland, Saval and Glen.,” she said. “In fact there is also major potential for galvanising and building on those services for the people of not only of this area but also for counties Louth and Monaghan. I have been pursuing this matter with the Southern Minister for Health Leo Vradkhar and will continue to do so. I will be pursuing the Minister for Health in the Northern Ireland Executive and in Dublin to ensure that all the services in Daisy Hill Hospital are retained, built upon and developed and fully utilised.”
Newry Democrat
3rd November 2015
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