Causeway Coast and Glens Council is to write to the Minister for Health calling on him to overturn proposed plans to remove emergency general surgery from Causeway Hospital.

At a meeting of Council on Tuesday, September 1, a motion proposed by Councillor Darryl Wilson and seconded by Councillor Tanya Elder was passed.

The motion called on the Minister to reverse proposed plans to remove emergency general surgery from Causeway Hospital and provide assurances on the hospital’s future as an acute hospital serving the Causeway Coast and Glens and the wider north coast.

It also called on the Minister to recognise the particular needs of the Causeway area, including its rural geography, ageing population, significant tourism and major events, as well as the travel times involved in accessing alternative acute hospitals.

A motion calling for the Council to write to the Health Minister calling on him to overturn proposals on emergency general surgery at Causeway Hospital has been passed.

placeholder image — A motion calling for the Council to write to the Health Minister calling on him to overturn proposals on emergency general surgery at Causeway Hospital has been passed.

The motion also added: “Following the previous loss of maternity services, Council is deeply concerned that removing emergency surgery would represent a further erosion of services and could lead to consequential losses across other departments.”