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Protest held over plans to cut emergency surgery from Causeway Hospital

BBC Gemma is wearing a bright red coat and holding a white sign that says Causeway Hospital = rural community lifeline!BBC
Gemma Brolly, chairperson of SOS Causeway Hospital group, spoke at the rally

Protesters gathered outside Causeway Hospital on Saturday for a demonstration against proposals to remove emergency surgery from the site.

The rally was organised by the SoS Causeway Hospital Group who say the march highlights that members of the Causeway Coast and Glens community oppose the plan.

The Northern Health Trust has proposed moving Emergency General Surgery (EGS) onto one hospital site, most likely at Antrim Area Hospital. Currently, it is spread between Antrim and Causeway Hospitals.

Senior management have said that the current dual system is "not sustainable".

A man and a woman standing on top of a stage with a banner on the front of the stage that reads: Causeway Hospitl, rally 14th December. Vote with your feet".
The rally finished in Coleraine town centre

If the proposals go ahead, it would mean that planned, uncomplicated surgery would be carried out solely on the Causeway site.

Campaigners say the public has not been reassured or convinced that the move will improve waiting list lengths and times, or improve people's health and well-being.

The march on Saturday began at Causeway Hospital and finished at Coleraine Town Hall.

Gemma Brolly, the chairperson of the SOS Causeway Hospital Group, led the speeches at the rally saying: "I'm appealing to the minister - and the trust - to go back to the drawing board to design the way forward."

William is wearing a navy rain jacket, a blue shirt and a stripy tie. He is also wearing a flat cap.
William Taylor from Farmers For Action said rural hospitals are a necessity
Three women holding placards standing on a street. One woman is wearing a brown coat and glasses and her placard says: "Enough is Enough". The woman in the middle is wearing a white woollen hat and a dark coat. Her placard reads: Causeway hospital rural community lifeline". The woman on the right is wearing a black and tan coat with the hood up and she has glasses. Her placard reads Scrooge or Santa, You choose".
Some of those attending the protest in Coleraine on Saturday

William Taylor from Farmers For Action said rural hospitals are a necessity not an option.

He added: "The service is very important for rural areas."

DUP MLA Maurice Bradley said they needed a different solution.

He said: "It leaves a large area without acute services - and totally reliant on ambulance care which is under resourced."

A child wears a beige woollen hat. She sits in a black buggy beside her father, who wears a navy and orange coat and green trousers. He has short brown hair.
Matthew Sheperd says the Causeway hospital saved his daughter's life

Matthew Sheperd said if it wasn't for the Causeway hospital his daughter Joniece might have died; as she was born by emergency Caesarean section.

"If it had not been there we would have had to travel to Antrim and that would have been a matter of life or death, and my daughter would not have made it.

"Rather than improving a service, they are taking a service away. It makes no sense."

Dr Tracey is wearing a navy coat and have short grey hair.
Dr Fergal Tracey is a retired consultant who worked at the Causeway Hospital

Dr Fergal Tracey is a retired consultant who worked at the Causeway Hospital.

He said "This is potentially a big downgrade for the hospital. Antrim hospital is critically overstretched - as is the ambulance service."

In a statement, the Department of Health (DoH) said the northern trust public consultation process concluded at the end of November and the trust will be considering the findings.

It added that the DoH and Public Health Agency will continue to work with the trust as it continues to develop plans for the reconfiguration of general surgical services across its hospital sites.

It also says any change to services will be taken in line the Department's Guidance on Change and Withdrawal of services and will require approval by the minister.