Shock over plan to cut emergency surgery at Causeway Hospital

There has been widespread disappointment following the decision by the Northern Health Trust to cut Emergency General Surgery (EGS) from Causeway Hospital.

EGS is likely to be removed from Causeway Hospital, after the Northern Trust recommended providing the service at Antrim Area Hospital.

This news of a recommendation follows a review and public consultation.

The Board’s recommendation requires the approval of the Health Minister and Department of Health before it can be implemented.

As it stands the service is spread between both Antrim Area and Causeway Hospitals.
Campaign group SOS Causeway branded the news a ‘complete betrayal’.

A spokesperson for the group said in light of the recent ‘shocking’ news they will continue to fight for local health services.
“As per our previous statement, we knew this was going to happen. This is a complete betrayal to the people and further damages relations with public service bodies and processes such as public consultations,” the spokesperson said.

“It should be noted that 29 people out of a total of 1,415 consultation responses were in favour of this move, absolutely shocking.

“This included staff and those working in both Antrim Area Hospital and Causeway Hospital, which casts a huge doubtful shadow over the claims from members of the board claiming the need for this move is recognized on both sites.

“SOS Causeway Hospital will continue to work hard. We will remind the Health Minister of his commitment now to meet with us, we will lobby heavily and widely.

“We previously delivered a presentation at a deputation workshop to our local council, this was only the beginning. Elected representatives will be left with no illusions as to where the loyalties of their constituents lie; in those who advocate best for their needs.

“We will continue to liaise with colleagues and organisations echoing our many concerns and are already in the midst of planning a public meeting with various other actions to accompany this.

“Make no mistake, this is a bump in the road, we are here for the journey, to fight for our local health services and essentially for common sense.”

Farmers For Action Steering Committee called for the Health Minister not to sign off on the removal of EGS at Causeway.

A spokesperson from the group said: “The North Coast is a huge farming area and this industry has catalogued many lives saved due to farm accidents and the availability of acute emergency surgery at Causeway.

“We implore you Minister to save lives going forward by retaining services at Causeway Hospital.”

East Derry MLA Claire Sugden said the public were 'deeply concerned' by the Trust's decision.

“This decision is worrying, not just because of what it means in practice, but because of the impact it will have on patients and families across the North Coast,” Ms Sugden said. “People in my constituency are deeply concerned. They see essential services being moved further away, making it harder to access the care they need when they need it most.”

The former Justice Minister also raised serious concerns about the impact on families and vulnerable patients.

“This is not just about distance. It is about dignity and outcomes,” she said. “Older people may struggle to travel to Antrim to visit a loved one. That means patients recovering from major surgery, especially those with dementia or at risk of delirium, could be left without the comfort and reassurance of familiar faces. That is unacceptable and risks poorer recovery.”

Speaking on the decision Chief Executive of the Northern Trust Jennifer Welsh said: “When we first began this process, we gave a commitment that proposals for any new model would be based on the evidence and data that is available to us, and that is what we have presented here today. The work done by our teams to get us to this point has been painstaking.

“I know there is tremendous depth of feeling on this issue, including from some of our own staff, and throughout the consultation period we have met with a wide range of stakeholders, and heard concerns from our local community about our proposals to transform how we deliver general surgery services.

“Put simply: we cannot continue to provide emergency general surgery across both our acute sites. If we do not act now and plan for service change, we are facing an inevitable collapse. I do not say that to scaremonger or cause alarm; I’m saying this because it is the very difficult reality we are faced with.”

Gillian Traub, Director of Operations at the Northern Trust, added: “We accept that what we are recommending as a Board, will not be welcomed by some in our local community who have raised very genuine concerns about any proposed change.

“Should service change go ahead, we will do all we can to build public trust and confidence by ensuring that the transition to a new model will be as smooth as possible, for both our patients and staff.”

Consultant surgeon James Patterson said the new delivery model would create better training opportunities and make Causeway Hospital a more attractive location for staff.

Mr Patterson said: “It’s important to say that, under the recommended proposal, general surgery will not be removed from Causeway Hospital. This is about separating out emergency general surgery from elective procedures so that we can ensure elective theatre time at Causeway is protected.

“Should service change go ahead, it creates an opportunity for Causeway to become an elective hub, and this could really start to make a difference when it comes to tackling lengthy waiting lists.

“The new proposed service model would also give surgical trainees access to protected theatre time in elective surgery, while also allowing them to have exposure to emergency general surgery during their rotation at Antrim Area Hospital.”

Chief Executive Jennifer Welsh stressed that the proposed change to general surgery would have no bearing on the Trust’s “unwavering and continuing commitment” to Causeway Hospital.

“Our Vision and ambition for Causeway remains. We have an unwavering and continuing commitment to the hospital, our workforce and wider community,” said Ms Welsh.

“Causeway Hospital’s future is secure. It is, and will remain, an important part of our Trust’s acute network, and an important part of the region’s acute hospital network. This proposal does not change that.

“We are also fully committed to maintaining a 24/7 Emergency Department and acute inpatient services at Causeway.

“By reshaping our general surgery service, we believe Causeway Hospital is perfectly positioned to become an elective hub for the entire North West.

“We are keen to see further investment in expanding and enhancing services at the hospital and we hope we will have the support of our local community when it comes to driving that vision forward.”

The recommendation will now be formally submitted to the Department of Health for consideration by the Health Minister.