Northern Trust meet with SOS Causeway Hospital Campaign group and hope conversations will 'provide clarity around concerns' relating to Causeway Hospital’s future

The group stated prior to the conversations this afternoon (July 14) that they had questions which needed answered urgently, such as the details for a contingency plan for expectant mothers with transport issues and the removal of foetal assessment from Causeway.

The questions stemmed after the Department of Health last month approved a permanent switch of births taking place from Causeway to Antrim Hospital following a recommendation from the Northern Trust.

Therefore, no births will take place at Coleraine from this Monday (July 17).

However, in a statement after the meeting, the Trust vowed that Causeway Hospital has "a very bright future" and several enhancements are already under way.

"The decision does not mean we wish to downgrade Causeway Hospital and it in no way signals its closure. We want that message to be very clear for our community, our service users and patients, and also our staff," a spokesperson said.

"Causeway Hospital has a very bright future ahead, demonstrated by our continued investment in services there.

"As we have previously stated, we remain committed to maintaining acute services and an Emergency Department at Causeway.

"We are also working closely with colleagues at the Department of Health to explore and plan the further development of diagnostic services to support emergency, elective and cancer services.

"As a Trust providing health and social care services in our community, it is important that we best serve the changing demographic of the area’s population which is why we have made significant investment in enhancing our ambulatory and frailty care services at Causeway Hospital.

"Preparations are also underway to provide enhanced antenatal clinics at Causeway Hospital so that pregnant women will have access to complex antenatal care. This means that some women will no longer have to travel to Antrim for antenatal appointments.

"We also want to assure pregnant women that we will continue to support home births."

A community rally is planned to take place in Coleraine tomorrow (July 15) by members of the Campaign group, but the Trust stressed they are equally as "passionate" about the future of Causeway Hospital.

"We acknowledge the very passionate campaign by SOS Causeway. We trust that today’s meeting has provided reassurance that we do in fact share the same goal," a spokesperson added.

"We too are passionate about the future of Causeway Hospital and today we restated our commitment to it remaining a key part of our acute hospital network.

"We hope that today’s meeting has provided clarity around some of the concerns expressed by the campaign group, and has helped to address some of the rumours and speculation which are detrimental to the hospital and unhelpful as we seek to attract and retain staff which is key to the stability of services."