Changes to acute hospital services in Southern Trust area

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.

“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.”