SOS Causeway rally for a Christmas Miracle!

SOS Causeway Hospital urge the community of Causeway Coast and Glens to rally for 'A Christmas Miracle' on Saturday 7th December, in a bid to save Emergency and General Surgery at Causeway Hospital. The group have also issued a reminder to the public to ensure they respond to the current consultation regarding the "Transformation of Surgery" in the Northern Trust. The consultation currently proposes centralising emergency and general surgery in Antrim Area Hospital and centralising elective and diagnostic surgery in Causeway Hospital. This consultation period ends this Friday 29^th November at 5pm. SOS Causeway Hospital have worked to create a template response which is available by contacting the group via social media. 

"The NHSCT were left in no doubt following their 'listening event' in Coleraine last month that the community of Causeway Coast and Glens are against the removal of emergency surgery at Causeway Hospital. Concerns raised at that event came from service users, from parent, grandparents, farmers; from administrative staff, Surgery staff and consultants. Many questions remain unanswered and it has also come to our attention that not only have members of staff written directly to the Trust to express their disapproval and concerns but a high profile member of the panel which presented this proposal has recently stood down from their post. These recent occurrences raise alarming concern, surely the NHSCT, surely the Health Minister cannot ignore these voices in this process of consultation?" stated SOS Causeway Hospital Chairperson Gemma Brolly.

"Members of the NHSCT have spoken about the lack of public trust, this is their opportunity to do something about that. Given the time of year, SOS Causeway Hospital are appealing to everyone to relay their concerns in writing via the consultation before this Friday 29^th November and then join us next Saturday 7^th December at 1pm as we merrily make our way from Causeway Hospital to Coleraine Town Hall in our festive cheer, with Christmas jumpers, hats, etc in a bid to implore the Health Minister to gift us the retention of Emergency and General Surgery and not to be a Scrooge this Christmas, or any other. Many have stated how this is a done deal and it would take a miracle, the people here will leave no stone unturned in achieving exactly that."