Member's statement: Daisy Hill Hospital: Maternity Services
Member's statement by Mr Gareth Wilson on .
- MLA
- Mr Gareth Wilson
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 22 September 2026
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Daisy Hill Hospital: Maternity Services
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5739087
Read the official Assembly record
Text
The news brought to the Chamber yesterday by the Health Minister, Robbie Butler, on Daisy Hill Hospital maternity services has been met with great concern and great annoyance in the wider community. The public's reaction should come as no surprise, and it is well warranted. Daisy Hill is a much cherished local hospital serving a wide and very rural population in Newry and Armagh and south Down. Personally, I had a very good experience of the hospital in preparation for surgery last year, and I cannot praise the hard-working staff there enough. Despite the good reputation of the hospital and its staff, there has been a theme over a number of years whereby various vital services in the hospital have been temporarily suspended. Temporary then became permanent, with services removed and undertaken elsewhere. Each one of those instances has brought the same public response: annoyance and a great sense of betrayal. People want to see services retained at Daisy Hill, and that includes the maternity services. Daisy Hill's maternity services are a vital part of the healthcare offering at the hospital, and the many people in my constituency and, indeed, neighbouring constituencies want to see that important service strengthened, not weakened to the point of removal. Minister Butler's commentary suggesting that, if the situation does not change by early November, services will relocate to Craigavon, presents him with a real and pressing challenge. Instead of running down the clock, will the Minister and the trust redouble efforts to ensure that the necessary resources are secured to enable the services to continue at Daisy Hill? That is the ask of the staff and of the wider community. The implications for Craigavon are, of course, also considerable. I feel that the knock-on impacts have not been fully considered should a course of action be pursued that sees the service relocated there. I am also deeply concerned about the confusion that the announcement has sown in the hospital and in the community. The announcements yesterday created more questions than answers. Indeed, the language used by the trust's chief executive, when he said that it was "more likely than not" that maternity services would move from Daisy Hill but that it was "not quite a done deal" in a way captures the attitude of senior decision-makers at the trust. That approach lacks a demonstrable determination to find solutions. I am not convinced by yesterday's reports that there is a firm willingness to find a solution in the short time available. The words of Eddy Curtis of Save Our Services Daisy Hill reflect a common sentiment:
"Why does it always have to be Daisy Hill?"
Why, indeed, does it always have to be Daisy Hill? Expectant mothers expect clarity, and it is important that Mr Butler MLA provides it. That is his challenge. This is a resourcing issue. It is not totally insurmountable, and I urge all those with authority to ensure that that important maternity provision remains on the site. The clock is ticking.
500 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Awaiting analysis
This record has not been analysed yet. It is not counted in any total until it has been assessed.
Disagree with this assessment?
Classifications can be challenged. A person reviews every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.