Protests At Award-Winning Hospital

The 'dedication and commitment' of health care staff has come in for praise at the official opening of the new Downe Hospital.

However, SDLP members of Down District Council refused to attend and opted to boycott the official ministerial opening and protested about financial cuts outside the facility.

Undeterred, NI Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said: "This state-of-the-art facility represents a major advancement in the provision of health care in Downpatrick and the surrounding areas.

"The people now have an excellent, purpose-built health facility providing high quality, safe and sustainable services."

As well as noting how the design achieved a number of awards, he continued: "The new Downe Hospital opened its doors to patients on 28 June 2009, at a cost of £64m.

"It provides inpatient services, including mental health and dementia services, a consultant-led emergency department, day procedure unit, outpatients, rehabilitation and maternity services.

"This hospital has already won a number of awards for its design, including a recent award from the Royal Institute of British Architects for Architectural Excellence.

"It has more than 300 people working in it representing a wide range of health care professionals and support workers. I have been deeply impressed by the commitment of staff," he concluded.

Chief Executive of the South Eastern HSC Trust Hugh McCaughey added: "We are very proud of this hospital which continues to evolve as an important provider of health care for local people.

"We are building on the increasing activity and increasing range of services new to this area, including cataract and fracture surgery, new diagnostic procedures and the midwifery led maternity unit.

"New consultant led sexual health services will come onstream shortly, and I am delighted to announce that bowel screening for the entire population of the South Eastern Trust area will begin in the Downe on 6 August," Mr McCaughey said.

But, the Health Spokesperson for the nationalist SDLP, Colin McGrath, said: "Today should be a day of celebration. But this has been ruined by the South East Trust, which, in the face of 3% efficiency savings, has proposed to reduce the bed places in the facility by over 20%."

He said that it was instead a "sad day for our area to receive such a massive cut to facilities but I feel that the Trust is not being upfront or helpful about this".

"They implemented a consultation process to remove psychiatric services to the Lagan Valley Hospital and propose a reduction in our A & E provision - downgrading it from a 24-hour facility," he said.

"There appears to be a new onslaught from the Trust and this is not fair on the hard working staff, patients in the hospital or people of the Down and Mourne area," he said.

"The SDLP was not attending today's event but peacefully demonstrated outside to make all guests aware of our views and hand delivered a letter to the Minister making him aware of our concerns."

(NS/BMcC)