Resident to take consultation review


The identity of the resident has not been revealed but they are being represented by Jack Murphy of McIvor Farrell Solicitors, Belfast.
The consultation, “Hospitals – Creating a Network for Better Outcomes”, sets out the key principles to underpin service reorganisation
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Hide AdThe aim of the consultation is to address a number of areas including the need for hospital reconfiguration, how hospitals can work together for better outcomes, where services are and how people can get the services they need in a sustainable way.
Under the proposals Daisy Hill Hospital has been given general hospital status in new framework, while the Department announced that their consultation meeting for the Southern Trust area would be taking place in Armagh.
This has caused concern amongst some politicians and campaigners for the hospital.
In a statement issued on Monday evening, the SOS Daisy Hill committee said that they “were very pleased to learn that a private citizen from the Newry area has decided to proceed with a pre-judicial review of the Department of Health’s decision to ignore the community of the Greater Newry area and not hold a public meeting to discuss their reconfiguration of hospitals in Northern Ireland”.
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Hide AdThey added that they had been informed at their recent meeting that their request to the Department’s Permanent Secretary to hold a public meeting in Newry on the public consultation had been refused.
"The Committee Members voiced their disgust at the Permanent Secretary’s refusal and obvious denial to consult to the standards expected from the Northern Ireland Assembly,” their statement read.
“Committee members stated that the elderly, vulnerable, etc who are totally reliant on public transportation and who are significantly affected by any decision on Daisy Hill Hospital are being totally and deliberately excluded from the consultation process.
"The Department of Health have failed to listen to the community on this very important consultation.
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Hide Ad"Members also felt the consultation document was very weak on providing information and data to allow members of the public to fully understand what consequences the consultation paper had for their local hospital.”
They also feel that in relation to the hospital’s designation as a General Hospital and what it means for Daisy Hill, “the consultation paper does not inform you”.
Members of the committee also felt that “Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act and the Rural Needs Act have been totally ignored”.
The Newry Reporter contacted the Department of Health for comment but at the time of going to press they had not responded.
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Hide AdPreviously the Department said people can join in an online consultation event on the future of the hospital network if they can’t make the in-person meeting taking place in Armagh on Tuesday, February 18 from 7-9pm.
They said: “The Department of Health has organised a series of in-person public events at locations across Northern Ireland as part of the region-wide consultation on the hospital reconfiguration framework.
"The events have been scheduled for the evening (7pm start) and are being held in a central location in each Trust area. The timing and locations have been selected to try and maximise public participation.
“For those unable to travel to an in-person meeting, a general online consultation event will be available for anyone, regardless of location. This will take place on Tuesday 11 February at 7pm.”
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