McAteer expresses concern over plans for Daisy Hill Stroke Unit

SDLP council candidate for Newry, Kevin McAteer has said his party will oppose any plans to reduce services at the Stroke Unit at Daisy Hill Hospital.

The SDLP delegation that met with senior Southern Health Trust managers to discuss the future of the Stroke Unit at Daisy Hill (l-r): Newry Council Candidate Kevin McAteer, Councillor John McArdle, Dominic Bradley MLA and Councillor Geraldine Donnelly.

Speaking after a meeting between an SDLP delegation and senior Southern Health Trust managers McAteer said, “We have an excellent model in the Stroke Unit at Daisy Hill, which provides a seamless service to patients in the area served by the hospital.

“Staff at the local Stroke Unit are highly respected by all those who need their care and expertise, and by their relatives who see at first hand the great work done by them.

“If anything, the Stroke Unit at Daisy Hill should be enhanced with additional medical staff and new equipment rather than aspects of the service being taken away from the hospital and moved to Craigavon.

Kevin continued, “It is believed any move to Craigavon will disadvantage people in the Newry and Mourne area and beyond, who will have to travel to Craigavon daily to visit relatives.

“I understand that is good news for people of the Craigavon area as it will strengthen services there, but not so for the people of Newry and the surrounding areas.

“The SDLP has fought down through the years to protect services at Daisy Hill and we will oppose any diminution of stroke services at Daisy Hill,” he insisted.

“The Trust intends to hold a consultation on the proposed movement of aspects of the service to Craigavon at the end of May, and I would urge all interested parties to have their say during the consultation.

McAteer added, “We must ensure that the voices of staff, public and elected representatives are heard clearly through the consultation process and send a strong message that we are opposed to any weakening of the services provided by the stroke unit in Daisy Hill.”

Short URL: https://newrytimes.com/?p=41166

Posted by Newry Times News on Apr 15 2014. Filed under Community, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry