These two important health consultations must be responded to says the Down Community Health Committee.
The Down Community Health Committee (DCHC) has urged local people to send written responses to the Department of Health Consultations on the future of breast assessment and stroke care as soon as possible.
A DCHC spokesperson said: “It is essential that as many people as possible should respond to the consultations before the 19 July deadline in order that the needs of our local community are properly addressed.
“Members of the Health Committee have drafted some points that people may wish to use in their consultation responses. These can be obtained by telephoning 4461 4340, or by contacting any member of the Health Committee.
“We believe that both sets of proposals are fundamentally and fatally flawed. It is very important that the Department of Health knows the views of local people. So it is time for us, as ordinary citizens, to write and do so right now”, he added.
“The failure of the Department of Health to hold a local consultation meeting concerning breast assessment services says a great deal, so we must ensure that local voices are heard.
“The proposed reshaping of stroke care services, it seems to us, will be enormously beneficial to the privileged urban dwellers of Belfast, with their existing proliferation of hospital services being further enhanced at the expense of rural communities, yet again.
“We question again if the the Department has the power to go through with these changes, without ministerial approval.”
