Debate contribution: Causeway Hospital: Emergency General Surgery
Debate contribution by Mr Robbie Butler on .
- MLA
- Mr Robbie Butler
- Party at the time
- Ulster Unionist Party
- Date
- 12 October 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Causeway Hospital: Emergency General Surgery
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5786292
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Member for his question. I understand the ongoing concern in relation to the provision of emergency general surgery at the Causeway Hospital and the potential impact on other acute services as a result of any change. However, let me be abundantly clear; any decision on a permanent change to a Health and Social Care (HSC) service must follow established guidance and governance processes. I have not yet been asked to make a decision, and no final decision will be made until I am content that the outcome, whatever it is, has been fully scoped and is supported by robust evidence, including on the points that the Member lists in his question. A detailed process is under way, which already includes significant scrutiny, with the trusts working closely with my strategic planning and performance group (SPPG) and other stakeholders. As that work is ongoing, I cannot give a definitive timeline for the finalisation of the proposal or for any subsequent decision. I have already made clear my commitment to ensuring that the wider implications for the Causeway Hospital and other areas of the HSC, as well as patients, staff and local communities, are fully understood before any permanent decision is taken. That includes consideration of clinical safety, service quality, the workforce, patient experience, the impact on other hospitals and the long-term sustainability of services across the system. The provision of safe and sustainable services will remain central to my consideration of any final proposal. Any decision that I make on whether to refer the proposal to the independent reconfiguration committee will be informed by the evidence that is available to me when I am asked to make a decision on a permanent change. While it is premature to pre-empt the outcome of that process, I can assure the Assembly that I will make a decision only when I am fully satisfied that any proposal has been subject to full and rigorous scrutiny.
324 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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