'People of Causeway Coast deserve better than disinformation', says Alliance councillor ahead of hospital debate

Alliance representatives Cllr Lee Kane and Alderman Yvonne Boyle made the comments ahead of a debate during a full meeting of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council on September 1.

At the meeting, members will debate a DUP-tabled motion calling on the Health Minister to “overturn the decision to remove emergency general surgery from Causeway Hospital”.

However, Cllr Kane hit out at other parties for “ignoring clinical expertise and risking patient care and safety”.

“I understand that some residents will feel uncertain and anxious about such a major potential change to local health services, and are concerned about what this might mean for their care and the care of their loved ones.

"But that is why it is so important to have an honest conversation about these proposals, based on the facts and clinical evidence”, Cllr Kane said.

“Despite what the self-appointed experts in the DUP and some other parties may say, surgeons and other senior health leaders have been clear: the choice we are facing is between a planned, clinically led reconfiguration of services in the Northern Trust, or the real risk of a service failure that could jeopardise patient care and safety right across the Trust area.

“Health experts are telling us that the consolidation of emergency general surgery in Antrim Area Hospital is in the best interest of patients.

"That clinical expertise should be the basis of our decision-making. Not disinformation from political representatives who are prioritising likes on social media over the safety of our constituents,” he continued.

Alliance Party Councillor for Coleraine, Alderman Yvonne Boyle, challenged claims that Causeway Hospital is being run down.

“This motion peddles myths about the future of Causeway Hospital that simply do not stand up to scrutiny.

"We have already had assurances from the Northern Trust about its commitment to the 24/7 A&E in Causeway Hospital, and we will continue to hold the Trust to account over that.

"During recent months, the site has also benefited from investment in new equipment, including a new £2million MRI scanner, recruitment of additional consultants, and extra elective care funding,” she said.

“Any suggestion that Causeway is being run down, or that changes to emergency general surgery will make it harder to keep staff at the site, are categorically untrue. We wouldn’t support the reconfiguration process if they were.

“Every day I hear from constituents frustrated by our health service. Whether that’s difficulties accessing GP services, long waiting lists for elective surgery, or delayed discharges due to lack of adequate community social care. We know that to do nothing is to allow the service to continue to deteriorate, risking eventual collapse.

“Health transformation is about making challenging decisions to improve patient care and ensure the sustainability of high quality and safe services. My party is up to that task, but it is a real shame that we can’t rely on other to do likewise."