A collective of surgeons from across the UK and Ireland has issued a statement warning that a failure to modernize surgical services in Northern Ireland risks worsening staff pressures and patient outcomes. The surgeons expressed concern, disappointment, and frustration following recent political disputes that they believe are prioritizing political considerations over patient safety.
Damian McKay, a general and colorectal surgeon at the Ulster Hospital and a spokesperson for the three surgical associations involved, stated that the primary message must always be patient safety first, followed by political considerations. He added that delaying necessary modernization could perpetuate existing workforce challenges, limit access to care, and widen health inequalities.
The surgeons' statement supports planned changes, including those for emergency general surgery (EGS), improvements to ambulance access, and enhancements to various areas supporting patient services. These changes are intended to address long-standing issues that have plagued Northern Ireland's healthcare system for nearly two decades, particularly concerning the recruitment and retention of specialist staff like surgeons, nurses, and anesthetists. Independent reports have consistently indicated that Northern Ireland has too many hospitals for its specialist workforce.
The recent political fallout, which saw the resignation of Health Minister Mike Nesbitt after a disagreement with UUP leader Jon Burrows over the potential withdrawal of EGS from Causeway Hospital, has jeopardized the implementation of a 2022 review of EGS services. This review recommended consolidating the service at fewer sites to improve efficiency and safety.
McKay emphasized that if service reform is known to lead to a more stable and safer system, collective effort is needed to achieve it, ensuring patients receive safe care. He noted that such reforms have already been implemented in other trust areas across Northern Ireland, underscoring the importance of supporting these services to do what is right for patients.
The new Health Minister, Robbie Butler, has stated that his decisions will be guided by expert evidence and the voices of the public. The statement from the surgeons comes from the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, the Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, and the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland. They believe that ongoing delays in decision-making for transformation have created voids where the public feels neglected and threatened.