Downpatrick Cllr Conor Galbraith says Downe Hospital must be supported in hospital reconfiguration
The discussion to discuss if the Downe Hospital is alive and well took place tonight in a motion that received unanimous support from Newry Mourne and Down District Councillors.
Downpatrick SDLP Councillor Conor Galbraith has successfully brought a motion to Newry Mourne and Down Council, which disputes the Department of Health’s categorisation of the Downe Hospital to a “Local Hospital” via the planned approach Hospitals: Creating A Better Network.
Going back to the Patten Report previously, it was noted then that the Downe Hospital would be classed as an ‘enhanced local hospital’ due to the Downe Hospital’s particular circumstances and indicating that no one size fits in terms of hospital categorisation.
Under the plans, the Downe Hospital, which currently operates as a Level 2 hospital would be categorised as an “Local Hospital”, a significant step down from other proposals such as a General Hospital or Regional Centre.
A tersely worded Facebook comment on the ‘Downe Hospital 24 hour a and e’ Facebook page said: “A motion demanding the restoration of 24-7 accident and emergency services at the Downe Hospital will be presented at the Council meeting on Monday evening. We expect it to receive all-party support. If that does not happen, the community will want to know why.”
Cllr Conor Galbraith’s Motion (seconded by Cllr Gareth Sharvin.)
“Noting the contents and lack of detail within the Department of Health’s Hospital’s – ‘Creating A Network For Better Outcomes’ document, and expressing its concern that after many years of public campaigning, this Council disputes that no recognition is given to the current Level 2 status of the Downe Hoispital, and disagrees with the categorisation of the Downe [hospital] as similar to other hospitals with minimal service delivery, this Council calls on the Department of Health to consider enhancing the classification of the Downe Hospital within its future hospital reconfiguration policy, and for the South Eastern Trust to continually review the potential for the safe enhancement of services at the Downe [hospital].”
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Following the Council meeting on Monday night, Councillor Galbraith said: “When the SDLP saw the proposals put forward by the Department of Health for the reconfiguration of hospitals, we could see clearly that these proposals, while well intentioned, did not meet the needs of people who are currently served by the Downe Hospital.
“Those who have been involved in the campaign for the Downe Hospital over the years will know how hard a battle this has been.
“While often an uphill struggle, those who worked so diligently to deliver this community hospital know its value and worth, which goes beyond any financial bottom line.
“We know the need of transformation in our health service, but for the Department to designate the Downe as an Area Hospital, where it would stand alongside such health centres as Moyle Hospital or the Robinson Centre, both excellent facilities, would denigrate it to a mere community health centre.
“This is not what the people in our area need or want to see.
“Therefore, I was delighted to bring the notice of motion successfully to our Council meeting calling for the Department to consider an enhanced category for their reconfiguration of hospitals that would recognise the status and operation of the Downe and Lagan Valley.
“This would allow for transformation, while keeping the door open for the potential future safe enhancement of services at the Downe.”
Cllr Galbraith added: “The SDLP look forward to hearing how the Department will respond to this, and we will ensure to keep the local community updated.”
South Down SDLP MLA Colin McGrath said: “I commend Cllr Galbraith for bringing this motion successfully to Council, which reflects the SDLP response to the hospital reconfiguration consultation.
“The Department of Health have had to be reminded time and again, and we will continue to remind them of this… transformation is what we all want to see, but when it is done through stealth, with an agenda of centralisation, this simply will not stand.
“There are other issues which I have with the hospital reconfiguration document, which we will continue to address, however, for the time being, I look forward to hearing the views of the Department of Health and how they view the Downe hospital as part of the hospital network.
“There is an inequality of service being proposed, and that is something the SDLP cannot and will not stand for.”
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Council Meeting Amendments Then Votes
During the discussion over the SDLP motion, Alliance Councillor Cadogan Enright brought forward a motion but it was defeated by 32 against and five for and the Alliance amendment fell.
Cllr Enright has argued that leading strongly with the restoration of the Downe A&E to a 24/7 service would underpin the development of other services which he said had been undermined by the absence of the A&E facility.
He said that we need to focus on what matters for ‘most of the people”.
However, the SDLP’s Gareth Sharvin said that he supported a section of the motion which indicated that Council saw the Downe A&E as part of the overall development of the hospital and that Cllr Enright’s motion would endanger the future of the possible re-opening of the A&E but under-mining its services.
Cllr Sharvin then proposed an amendment based on part of Cllr Enright’s motion and it was agreed in the chamber.
