Ulster Unionist Councillor David Taylor has commented on the Southern Health and Social Care Trust statement on medical workforce pressures within inpatient maternity services at Daisy Hill Hospital.

Councillor David Taylor said:

“This is deeply concerning news for expectant mothers, staff and the entire community served by Daisy Hill Hospital.

“The clear priority must be to try to retain inpatient maternity services at Daisy Hill. I have already raised the seriousness of the situation directly with Health Minister Robbie Butler, and I welcome his intervention to ensure that every reasonable option for securing the necessary medical cover is fully explored. This includes a clear expectation not only off the Southern Trust, but on all Trusts in Northern Ireland to work together to try to find a regional resolution. 

“The Southern Trust must now provide a full and frank explanation of how the service so quickly reached such a precarious position. The local community deserves full transparency on what action has been taken to date and why previous recruitment efforts have not succeeded.

“I will be seeking an urgent meeting with the Southern Trust to scrutinise its workforce planning, recruitment efforts and proposed contingency arrangements. I will also be seeking clear commitments on other services remaining at Daisy Hill, and in the event of births being redirected to Craigavon what conditions and timescale would apply to restoring inpatient maternity care, and how any temporary arrangement would be prevented from becoming permanent by default.

“Daisy Hill is a vital hospital serving a large and geographically dispersed population. I will continue pressing the Trust to ensure that no stone is left unturned in securing the future of its inpatient maternity service.”