Moyle getting a 'raw deal' from the Health Minister

The Sinn Fin Assembly Member was speaking after he led a delegation including Ballycastle Councillors Cathal Newcombe and Cara McShane, to meet with the Chief Executive of the Northern Health Trust.

Mr McKay said: "After a lengthy meeting with the Chief Executive and other representatives of the Trust we remain deeply concerned about the provision of health services in the Moyle area.

"I still feel quite strongly that rural communities are not getting the same level of service as urban dwellers and I found it unsurprising that no rural-proofing was carried out by the Northern Trust before it cut the x-ray service at Dalriada Hospital earlier this month.

"We outlined to the Chief Executive the impact the withdrawal of this service would have on local people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds and those who have difficulty accessing transport and he has agreed to look at ways of mitigating the impact this will have on patients.

"However the continuing cuts to services here remain totally unacceptable and I intend to again raise with the Health Minister, at the Assembly, the lack of rural-proofing mechanisms within his department and his continued failure to protect health services in rural areas."

Ballycastle Councillor Cathal Newcombe criticised the way that the removal of x-ray facilities at Dalriada was handled:

"I remain cynical of the decision to phase this service out over the Christmas period and I am also cynical of the 'review' which will take place on the x-ray walk-in facility at Causeway Hospital which will be provided for Dalriada patients over the next three months. There is clearly no commitment to retain this walk-in facility and will, in all likelihood, also be phased out after 3 months."

Moyle Chairperson Cara McShane has said that the lack of representation on the Northern Area's Local Commissioning Group is unacceptable:

"The Local Commissioning Group does not have a single elected representative from Moyle Council and it is not adequately democratic in my view. Some councils are represented on the group and some are not, therefore leading to a severe lack of balance and representation. I intend to raise this further with the Health Board.

"Local stakeholders are opposed to this latest decision to axe x-ray facilities and we intend to keep abreast of their views when we meet with the Trust and the Board over the coming year."

N.B. Any GP who usually refers to Dalriada Hospital can refer patients to the walk-in facility at Causeway Hospital.