S.O.S. Causeway Hospital Campaign to meet Chief Executive of Northern Trust

The group has been campaigning against the decision to cut maternity services at the hospital

The group are also set to assemble at Causeway Hospital and march to Coleraine Town Hall this Saturday (July 15)

Reporter:

Nicole Lang

13 Jul 2023 4:48 PM

A delegation from S.O.S. Causeway Hospital Campaign will meet with the Northern Trust Chief Executive, Jennifer Welsh on Friday (July 14) at 1pm.

Also present at the meeting will be Director of Nursing, Paediatrics, Women’s and Corporate Support Services, Suzanne Pullins, and Director of Women’s Health and Head of Midwifery and Gynaecology, Caroline Diamond.

Campaigners, who have been opposing the closure of maternity services at Causeway Hospital in Coleraine, vowed to fight the closure despite the Department of Health confirming its decision.

The Department's permanent secretary, Peter May, previously stated that the decision to halt births at the County Derry hospital had been made, with the cut set to take effect this month.

Gemma Brolly, chairperson of the S.O.S. Causeway Hospital Campaign, said she and campaigners were "extremely disappointed" to have their questions "shut down" at the recent Trust Board meeting.

Ms Brolly said: "These were genuine concerns which our community needed answers on, concerns we had forwarded in advance which were approved, yet that day the board 'were not keen to enter a question and answer discussion.'

"Having adjusted the format of these questions however, we welcomed the admission afterwards, from the Trust board that there were still unanswered questions.

"Chief Executive, Jennifer Welsh then extended an invitation to meet that day and later via email to which we have gratefully accepted."

Ms Brolly explained that there are many questions which "must be answered with a matter of urgency" such as the details of a contingency plan for expectant mothers with transport issues and the removal of foetal assessment from Causeway Hospital.

"An extreme fear exists among our community that the removal of births from Causeway Hospital will create a domino effect on the rest of our existing hospital services," Ms Brolly continued.

"We need guarantees on the future of Paediatrics, ICU and A&E as they exist today.

“We continue to work with our legal team and this Saturday 15th July at 2pm we will take to the streets as one community, assembling at Causeway Hospital and marching to Coleraine Town Hall.

"We are united in determination to fight for our acute hospital services and ensure the future of our local hospital, providing first class health care to all citizens with no discrimination based on locality. We will not cease until our objectives are met."

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