Coronavirus: Southern Trust to temporarily move emergency departments to Craigavon Hospital

It is one of a number of changes to acute hospital services as Trust prepares for increase in Covid-19 patients.

Some planned surgical work will be moving from Craigavon Hospital to Daisy Hill.

Interim director of acute hospitals, Mel McClements said: “To ensure the safety of staff and patients, we have taken the essential decision to run one Emergency Department, which will be at Craigavon Area Hospital. This means a temporary closure of Daisy Hill’s Emergency Department, effective from 2pm on Saturday March 28th, 2020.

“This is not a decision we have taken lightly, but these are exceptional circumstances. This move allows us to consolidate our emergency, intensive care and respiratory expertise all one site which will give us a much more robust service in the weeks ahead.

“If we don’t work make these changes now, we risk services on both sites collapsing as we expect staffing levels to be impacted in weeks to come.

Other services will continue. Some planned surgical work will be moving from Craigavon to Daisy Hill.

Maternity services will be continuing on both sites, although some routine/low risk patients may have their care transferred to Daisy Hill. Patients affected by these changes will be contacted directly.

A Trust spokesperson said: “Daisy Hill Hospital Emergency Department is a key part of our service provision. This is a temporary measure to deal specifically with Covid-19.

“Please be assured that this service will re-open once the immediate situation improves. In the meantime, please stay at home, wash your hands, keep your distance.”