Irish speakers in the Downpatrick area back Down Community Health Committee calling on restoration of the Downe Hospital 24/7 A&E
Cumann Gaelach Leath Chathail has presented a petition to the Down Community Health Committee in support of a return of the 24/7 accident and emergency services to the Downe Hosptial.
The A&E unit in the Downpatick was closed some years ago, forcing those seeking urgent medical care to travel to Dundonald and other hospitals outside the area, hospitals which are suffering from severe over-crowding.
Handing the petition to Eamonn McGrady of the Down Community Health Committee (DCHC), Marcas Mac Ruairí from Cumann Gaelach Leath Chathail said: “It is scandalous that key health services such as Accident and Emergency are no longer available in Downpatrick.
“In support of the valuable campaigning work by the Downe Community Health Committee, we were delighted to be able to raise a petition among local Irish speakers and those attending our classes in support of the Committee’s campaigning work.”
DCHC Chair Eamonn McGrady added: “It is important that we keep consistent pressure on health authorities to review accident and emergency provision at the Downe.
“By depending on A&E services that are as much as an hour’s drive away, and much longer during heavy commuter traffic, lives are at risk.
“The A&E services in those other hospitals in Belfast are severely over-stretched and the additional stress on patients in such settings is counter-productive to recovery.”
The Downe Hospital is running a GP Out Of Hours service and an Urgent Care Centre at the moment.
You can sign the petition in many shops, garages and centres around the Downpatrick area or sign it online by scanning the QR code:
