Statement by TUV Newry and Armagh Assembly candidate Keith Ratcliffe:
“I am very concerned about the recent announcement that all emergency surgeries at Daisy Hill hospital will be halted for the first time ever. Instead, operations will now need be conducted over 20 miles away at Craigavon Area Hospital. This is simply unacceptable as many people within the constituency of Newry and Armagh will now have to travel considerable distance for life-saving treatment, I have no doubt that in these scenarios that time is of the essence and the extra few miles could be critical. This move will be particularly severe on those who live in isolated parts of the constituency.
“Of course, this is only the latest in the long list of attacks on Daisy Hill hospital. Only recently we have witnessed the threat of closure of the A&E department, which was thankfully faced down. The COVID-19 pandemic has forcibly reminded us of the importance of well-resourced and accessible local health provision – this we do not have.
“Stormont has perpetually failed to protect and furnish the NHS with the resources which it so desperately requires, the halting of emergency surgeries at Daisy Hill is only on example of this.
“This must change. I commit to fighting to ensure that Daisy Hill hospital has the resources to best serve the constituents of Newry and Armagh.”