Rural lives cannot be an 'afterthought', healthcare campaigners say

Campaigners are calling for urgent action to ensure rural healthcare is not overlooked in Northern Ireland's health reforms. Four hospital groups have penned a joint letter to the Northern Ireland Executive, demanding a cross-departmental working group to address rural health access. They warn that rural communities are at risk of being cut off from timely access to critical hospital services, including acute care and maternity services.

In 2024, former Health Minister Mike Nesbitt proposed a new hospital network to spread healthcare services across counties, expecting patients to travel further for specialist treatment. However, campaigners argue this approach could exacerbate existing inequalities. The Department of Health has been asked for a response.

Donal O Cofaigh, from Save Our Acute Services, emphasized the importance of collective decision-making by executive ministers regarding the removal of services from local hospitals. The groups signed a letter expressing concern over past healthcare decisions framed as purely operational, with insufficient cross-departmental scrutiny.

The groups highlight several recent service cuts. Emergency general surgery (EGS) was permanently removed from Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry in 2024, and maternity services at the hospital may also be suspended. Causeway Hospital in Newry saw its maternity services permanently suspended in 2023, followed by Craigavon Area Hospital. EGS was temporarily withdrawn from South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen in 2022, and the Western Health and Social Care Trust is consulting on its permanent removal.

The campaigners argue that forcing rural communities to travel long distances for emergency care, especially when they are most vulnerable, has severe consequences. They call for a "presumption of restoration" for services removed without appropriate assessments or scrutiny, emphasizing that rural-proofing is non-existent. Independent rural-needs and equality assessments, along with a cross-departmental ministerial working group, are demanded to ensure fair and effective healthcare provision across Northern Ireland.