Inpatient maternity services at Daisy Hill hospital in Newry will be temporarily suspended beginning November 23. The Southern Health Trust board voted to consolidate these services at Craigavon hospital, citing an inability to recruit enough consultant obstetricians to safely staff both locations.
The decision has faced significant opposition, and a pregnant woman is preparing to file judicial review papers in the High Court on Tuesday afternoon to try and halt the implementation. While the trust has described the suspension as temporary, there is currently no set timeline for the restoration of services at Daisy Hill.
Steve Spoerry, Chief Executive of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, stated that the trust does not wish to be in this situation but has exhausted all recruitment efforts. The hospital requires eight substantive consultants to operate safely but will only have two, supplemented by three locum consultants, from the end of November. Spoerry called the suspension a "sad day" and apologized to the community, asserting there was no alternative to ensure safe care.
Questions have been raised about Craigavon's capacity to handle the anticipated increase of 1,700 births annually, a concern the Trust stated it is prepared for. Dr. Beverly Adams, Divisional Medical Director for Maternity and Women's Services, explained that a centralized telephone triage service with a midwife will assess expectant mothers. High-risk cases or those nearing labor will be advised to go to Craigavon or another appropriate facility. She acknowledged that women in more rural areas, such as South Down and South Armagh, have previously been directed to give birth at Craigavon or the Royal Victoria Hospital.
The trust aims to continue providing antenatal and postnatal services at Daisy Hill and is working towards a sustainable future for the hospital as a general facility. Preparations are also in place for unexpected arrivals, with each registered pregnant woman to be assigned a dedicated midwife. The ambulance service will triage women to the most suitable hospital.