An urgent Notice of Motion regarding the future of emergency general surgery at Causeway Hospital is set to be presented before the Full Council tomorrow night, according to DUP Councillor Darryl Wilson.
The proposal to centralise emergency surgery services at Antrim Area Hospital has raised significant concerns among local leaders and residents alike.
Councillor Wilson expressed his discontent with the rationale behind the proposed changes, highlighting the pressing questions that the Health Minister must address urgently. “What will this mean for our Emergency Department? Ambulance provision? Other acute services? Recruitment, investment, and the long-term future of Causeway Hospital?” he queried, questioning the potential impact on the community.
With over 150,000 residents and a large rural population, as well as numerous visitors each year, Wilson argues that the removal of such a vital service cannot be accepted without thorough examination. “This issue transcends politics, party, religion, and community background. The health and wellbeing of our residents must come first,” he asserted, urging all councillors to unite in support of retaining emergency surgery at Causeway.
The backdrop to this urgent motion is a contentious proposal from the Northern Health Trust board, which recommends moving emergency general surgery, responsible for treating acute abdominal issues like appendicitis and perforated ulcers, away from Causeway to Antrim. Health officials and senior surgeons argue that maintaining dual emergency surgical rotas is clinically unsustainable due to staff shortages and burnout.
While the trust assures that Causeway Hospital will continue to operate a 24/7 emergency department and become a dedicated centre for planned elective surgery, local campaigners, including the SOS Causeway Hospital group, fear that the move compromises safety for rural communities and signals a gradual erosion of essential acute services.
The political ramifications of this issue have been profound, leading to the resignation of former Health Minister Mike Nesbitt after a clash with party leader Jon Burrows, who vehemently opposed the proposed changes at a town hall meeting. Newly appointed Health Minister Robbie Butler has agreed to meet with local campaign groups to discuss the reconfiguration.
As the Full Council meeting approaches, Councillor Wilson is calling for a united front from all political parties to address these critical concerns affecting the health of the local community.
