Ritchie and McKevitt Meet With Health Minister Poots

“The SDLP met with the Health Minister Poots today to discuss with him the need to protect, consolidate and enhance the range of services at both the Downe Hospital and Daisy Hill Hospital. “I pressed upon the need to reinstate the consultant led A&E services at night time in the Downe Hospital. We also made a case for the protection of mental health service in Downpatrick and the need to ensure that more services could be offered at the Downe Hospital. “The case for the retention of the maternity led unit at the Downe Hospital was reiterated and the Minister recognized that the unit was performing well and on target. We also discussed the need to replace the existing Health Centre provision at Pound Lane in Downpatrick. The minister advised that the business case for the new health centre to be located in the hospital was approved.” SDLP South Down MLA Karen McKevitt said, “We raised the need to sustain the existing services at Daisy Hill and the requirement for the hospital to be able to provide services on a north-south basis, particularly to the large catchment in Louth and Monaghan “We will be pursuing these issues with the Irish government because we believe the best quality health care provision can be provided on a cross-border basis at Daisy Hill. “We had a helpful meeting with the minister and emphasized the need to enhance, consolidate and protect the health needs, including A&E of all the people of South Down.”]]>