It was standing room only at a packed public meeting at Coleraine Town Hall last night, where concerned residents voiced their opposition to the Northern Health and Social Care Trust’s controversial plans to relocate Emergency General Surgery (EGS) from Causeway Hospital to Antrim Area Hospital. The meeting was marked by passionate speeches and a unified call to action from local leaders and community members.
The Trust’s recommendation for relocation stems from significant workforce challenges, making the operation of EGS at both hospitals deemed unsustainable. This proposal is now at a critical juncture, awaiting approval from Northern Ireland’s Department of Health Minister.
Gemma Brolly, Chair of the SOS Causeway Hospital campaign, expressed her deep concerns in a passionate address on a social media video. “You may have seen that we’re currently working very hard on this issue. This is Causeway Hospital, and throughout my lifetime, I have witnessed local hospitals becoming increasingly centralised. I was born in the Route Hospital, which was later centralised to become Causeway Hospital. We have had this hospital for over 20 years, and there are many feelings surrounding what it could have been and should have been.
“As of 2023, births have been transferred from Causeway Hospital to Antrim, which has caused considerable upset for many. The journey involved poses risks and adds to concerns and worries. This change was accompanied by the promise of enhanced antenatal services at Causeway Hospital, which we have inquired about regarding their quality. We welcome the many stories coming in and encourage people to continue contacting the Trust via email for any complaints or concerns.
“However, we are currently facing a crisis. Once again, we see the same domino effect unfolding, with Antrim Hospital set to become the centralised location for emergency surgery. This service will be transferred from Causeway Hospital to Antrim, just as births have been. This decision has already been approved by the Northern Trust Board and is awaiting approval from the Health Minister.
“We are urging the Health Minister to examine the facts and the statistics behind previous decisions that have not come to fruition. We need to listen to the people, which has yet to happen. We are actively campaigning, leafleting, and asking individuals to consider signing the petition available online through Unison. Additionally, we urge everyone to attend the public meetings starting at Coleraine Town Hall on the 13th of August at half past seven.
“If we do not stand up now for our local hospital and the services of our acute hospital here at Causeway, we risk losing them forever. The Trust Board envisions Causeway Hospital as a hub for diagnostic and elective surgery, which does not align with our vision, and we must ensure that it does.”
Ballymoney DUP Councillor Darryl Wilson reinforced the urgency of the situation. “Causeway Hospital will not be saved by one packed meeting, one powerful speech, or one Facebook post,” he asserted. “The future of our health service should be right at the very top of the agenda. Very few things matter more than whether you, your child, your parent, or your grandparent can access lifesaving hospital care when they desperately need it.”
UUP North Antrim MLA and party leader Jon Burrows voiced his strong opposition to the Trust’s recommendation. “Let me say this: I do not support the recommendation from the trust to close the emergency surgery at Causeway Hospital. I disagree with it, and I will never agree with it,” he stated emphatically.
TUV North Antrim MP Jim Allister highlighted the community’s previous losses, stating, “First they came for maternity services, now it’s an assault on emergency surgery. The public consultation showed overwhelming rejection, yet the Trust persists.”
As the meeting drew to a close, attendees were encouraged to continue their advocacy efforts, including signing petitions and contacting local representatives. The SOS Causeway Hospital campaign remains resolute in ensuring that emergency services remain accessible in their community, making it clear that their fight is far from over.
