South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has backed the Down Community Health Committee in its white line protest in Ballynahinch on Saturday. Included is Downpatrick Councillor Colin McGrath. xa0[/caption]
South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has said the people of Ballynahinch have given strong support to the need to develop an enhanced local hospital at the Downe Hospital.
Speaking today she said: xa0“On Saturday, xa0the Down Community Health Committee moved their campaign for the development of an enhanced local hospital to Ballynahinch.
“Campaign members along with Sean Rogers MLA and myself were told in the strongest possible terms that the people of Ballynahinch and the local hinterland wanted the services retained at the Downe Hospital. And that they wanted the Minister for Health, the Health and Social Care Board along with the South Eastern Health Trust to develop an enhanced local hospital which was promised in the Business Case which was approved in 2003.
“The Business Case for the new Downe Hospital was approved, constructed and opened to provide services to the people of Down and Mourne on the basis of two principles – equity of access to medical and health provision, and local accessibility to health and medical facilities delivered at the point of need. “The people of Ballynahinch told us yesterday that they wanted to see those principles honoured and adhered to. “I will continue to pursue the need to develop an enhanced local Downe Hospital with the Minister and the senior health officials at every opportunity”.
Campaigners have avowed at at recent meeting to celebrate the sixth anniversary of the building of the new Downe hospital to keep up the public pressure on health authorities and the Health Minister for the case for re-opening the Downe A&E to a full 24/7 service, and the re-instatement of coronary care along with the replacement of beds removed from the hospital.
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