Four hospital campaign groups across Northern Ireland have submitted a joint letter of concern to the executive demanding greater consideration of rural communities in health transformation decisions. The groups—Save Our Acute Services, SoS Causeway Hospital group, Save Our Services Daisy Hill, and the Down Community Health committee—have been campaigning for years against the closure of acute services in their respective areas.
The campaigners have documented several recent service reductions affecting rural hospitals. Emergency general surgery was permanently removed from Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry in 2024, following a temporary suspension that began in February 2022. Maternity services at the same facility face potential suspension starting later this month, with consolidation planned at Craigavon Area Hospital. Causeway Hospital saw its maternity services permanently suspended in 2023 and transferred to Antrim Area Hospital. South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen has had emergency general surgery suspended since 2022, with the Western Health and Social Care Trust subsequently consulting on its permanent removal before agreeing to pause and reconsider.
The groups argue that past healthcare decisions have been treated as purely operational or clinical matters without sufficient cross-departmental review. They contend that rural-proofing mechanisms are inadequate and that communities are disadvantaged by their geographic location. The campaigners have requested a “presumption of restoration” pathway for services removed without appropriate assessment and have called for independent rural-needs and equality impact assessments.
The Department of Health responded by stating that all decisions are made on the basis of safety and patient outcomes, and that the health minister is aware of rural area challenges. In September, Health Minister Robbie Butler announced plans for an independent expert committee to advise on major health service proposals and directed officials to review existing guidance on service changes, including rural and equality considerations.
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