A South Down DUP MLA has vowed to continue fighting for maternity services at Newry’s Daisy Hill Hospital while accusing Sinn Féin of prioritising “its fundamental sectarian hatred of the Orange Order and unionists” above all else.
Speaking during a meeting of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Diane Forsythe raised the recent news of the decision to close maternity services at the busy Newry hospital.
On September 21, the Southern Trust warned it may have to consolidate “all births and inpatient maternity care” at Craigavon Area Hospital ‘temporarily’ due to ongoing staffing issues at Daisy Hill in Newry.
Campaigners committed to saving the services at the hospital have scheduled a public meeting in the Canal Court Hotel on Thursday, October 1, at 7pm, with the message to the Southern Trust coming through loud and clear: “This fight is only starting.”
During the meeting in chambers at Stormont, Ms Forsythe made her feelings on the topic – amid ever-changing news of the Drumcree parade battle – very clear.
She informed members: “A week ago, the Chamber heard from the Health Minister about the plans to close maternity services at Daisy Hill Hospital. That was disgraceful then, and it remains an unacceptable way forward.
“I believe that the Health Minister was railroaded in his new position to move towards that plan on incomplete information. The previous Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, understood and intervened. I urgently call on Minister Butler to push back, challenge officials and take a different position on the issue.”
She said the services were “crucial” to the people of South Down, Newry and Armagh.
Sharing her own personal experiences of the maternity unit, the MLA added: “My three children were delivered there, I was born there and people across the area have a close affiliation to the hospital.
“The midwives are second to none; as professionals, they stand ready to continue in their services. Anxious mothers who are due to have their babies in the coming weeks look on in despair.
“I am working hard to ensure that messages are clear and that they know what services are there for them. The Minister needs to intervene. We need to see a Northern Ireland-wide register of gynae and obstetric doctors who are able to cover all hospitals to help them remain open.”
Despite Drumcree and the Garvaghy Road taking up the majority of headline space in recent days, the MLA reaffirmed that she, for one, has not taken her eye off the ball in Newry.
“No matter what else has been going on, I have been working hard and continuing to raise the issue at every opportunity,” said Ms Forsythe. “It is shocking and disgraceful to see other MLAs abandon the issue when mothers across our area are devastated and midwives are heartbroken and do not know what is coming for them and their services.”
Ms Forsythe claimed several other politicial representatives had lost focus of the issue and instead were more committed to “lawbreaking, fighting to block roads and destroying others”.
Calling out Infrastructure Minister and Newry MLA Liz Kimmins – who Ms Forsythe said “usually speaks up for Daisy Hill”, she added, “This is a Sinn Féin Minister whose priorities are standing with her First Minister and her ministerial colleagues blocking the roads, disregarding the law and defying how the country operates. Sinn Féin is not prioritising Daisy Hill. Its fundamental sectarian hatred of the Orange Order and unionists clearly comes above all.
“I respect the rule of law, parade determinations and the court rulings over the weekend, and I prioritise the local health services. I will continue to fight for maternity services at Daisy Hill, and people can count on me to do that.”
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