Southern Health Trust Apologises After Daisy Hill Maternity Services Suspended Due to Staff Sickness

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust apologised for changes to obstetrics and gynaecology services at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry after it said it was unable to provide safe medical cover due to “unexpected staff sickness” over the weekend.

“- Published Maternity services at Daisy Hill Hospital have resumed following a temporary suspension”

BBC

The Trust said that “from Friday evening, 19 June, until 9am on Monday 22 June, all obstetric and gynaecology care will be provided at Craigavon Area Hospital,” and that a small number of maternity patients currently in Daisy Hill would be transferred to continue their care.

BBC

In its statement, the Trust said the divert was designed “to ensure the safety of women and babies,” and it advised any women concerned to phone the Craigavon Area Hospital Maternity Assessment Unit for advice.

The BBC later reported that the Trust had “successfully secured medical cover for obstetrics and gynaecology services,” and that “business as usual will resume” from 21:00 BST with the divert to Craigavon stood down.

Sinn Féin MLA Sinead Ellis said the temporary suspension highlighted “a bigger issue around staff shortages and workforce planning,” and she said she would raise the matter with the Health Minister.

The Irish News quoted Ellis saying, “Daisy Hill maternity services play a vital role and the Department of Health must find solutions to ensure this does not happen again.”

Belfast Live

In a separate statement, DUP MLA Diane Forsythe said the temporary closure “has understandably caused serious concerns for staff and patients,” and she said she had been in contact with the Trust’s management regarding the suspension.

The BBC also quoted DUP MLA Diane Forsythe saying she had “been in contact with the management of the trust and Department of Health overnight escalating concerns,” and that there were “a number of questions needing answered” which she would follow up on.

The Trust said it continued to face “ongoing medical staffing challenges within obstetrics and gynaecology at Daisy Hill,” and it described the divert as part of “established service continuity arrangements” designed by clinical teams.

The BBC reported that the chair of the British Medical Association’s (BMA) Northern Ireland council described the temporary suspension as “an inevitable consequence” of staff shortages, adding that “Clearly the system is failing at addressing this issue.”

BBC News NI also quoted Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins saying it was her understanding the situation was “due to a lack of staffing cover which left it unsafe essentially for expectant mothers coming in.”

After the suspension, the BBC said the Trust stated it would resume from 21:00 BST and stand down the divert to Craigavon, while continuing to say it was keeping the situation “under review” as it faced staffing pressures.