"Amazing to see thousands marching against suspension of maternity service"
CUT would put thousands in Newry, South Armagh, South Down & across the border in danger.
THOUSANDS in Newry have supported maternity at Daisy Hill as it faces imminent suspension by the Southern Trust.
The march was organised by the SOS Daisy Hill campaign in conjunction with Unison the Union.
People Before Profit’s Newry & Armagh rep Marv Mac Seáin commended the SOS Daisy Hill commitee.
“It was amazing to see thousands marching against the suspension of Daisy Hill’s maternity service.
“This cut would put thousands in Newry, South Armagh, South Down & across the border in danger.
Families can’t be expected to make journeys of 1 & 1/2 hours+ safely up the country roads to Craigavon, especially in dangerous storm conditions like last night.
40% extra births transferred to Craigavon from Newry will also use vital bed space, it’s a double cut.
“Daisy Hill has seen cut after cut for years but a line in the sand must be drawn. There must be accountability & systemic change with the Southern Trust,
Department of Health, Stormont Executive who have failed our communities year on year. We demand basic healthcare equality and an end to acute service centralisation.
“We need cross-border health cooperation on a hospital network, along with training of staff from the shared island fund. Not just with Daisy Hill, but with SWAH in Enniskillen & Causeway in Coleraine too.
“We must take inspiration from the people power we are seeing force change with Garvaghy Road standing up to the Orange Order, with Public Sector Workers fighting on pay in the Republic, the French Students or Spanish Housing movement. We need further organised community & workplace fightback to stop the suspension of maternity.”