A Newry hospital campaign group has claimed a date for the last baby born in the city’s hospital has been confirmed to staff.
A packed hotel room was also told of the need to save the lifesaving maternity service after a Co Down woman and her baby were saved, just last week.
The Daisy Hill SOS spokesperson, Eddie Curtis, made the claims during a public meeting, on Thursday, at the launch of the Newry People’s Forum, when he urged for up to 30,000 people to come out to a public rally to save maternity services
Mr Curtis, a former CEO of Newry Mourne and Down District Council said: “I am sure everyone in this room has had a family member who has had to go to Daisy Hill.
“Unfortunately, once again the trust and the Department of Health have brought forward a proposal to transfer maternity service out of Newry to Craigavon Area hospital.
“They are saying that is on a temporary basis, but I think we all know when they say that, if it goes it will not be back.
“We have a very short window to bring information forward that is going to change the minds of the trust, the permanent secretary and the Minister of Health.
“The information I have for you tonight is that even though they say they are looking for solutions there was a meeting today with staff and they were informed that the last birth at Daisy Hill will be November 24, we can’t let that happen.”
The Southern Trust recently made a shock announcement that almost 2,000 babies may temporarily not be born at Daisy Hill due to a lack of obstetrician consultants available at the hospital.
An online petition by the trade union, UNISON, seeking the Minister of Health to save Daisy Hill’s maternity services has now reached over 12,000 signatures.
Mr Curtis added: “We have a public rally on October 25 in Marcus Square in the city centre at 2.30pm, we are looking for 20,000 to 30,000 people to attend, this is such an emotive subject.
“I’ll give you an example of why Daisy Hill is needed.
“There was a young mother in Kilkeel last week, she went into labour very quickly and in a very bad way.
“She could not get through the front door. The ambulance and the police arrived and they were able to break in.
“Fortunately, due to the expertise of the medical team, both were brought back to life, but if we didn’t have Daisy Hill, that baby would not be here today.
“What I am saying to everybody is, they are playing with people’s lives..and we have to stop the further removal of services at Daisy Hill, so get your families out and come to the rally to march from Marcus Square to Daisy Hill.”
The PSNI has confirmed the medical emergency in Co Down when a “trapped” pregnant woman in labour was discovered with her baby not breathing at her home.
In a post on Facebook, a PSNI spokesperson for Newry, Mourne and Down said: “This morning (Oct 1) just after 11.30am police received a call requesting assistance in relation to a female trapped in her home address in active labour. Police and NI Ambulance Service (NIAS) arrived within minutes.
“Police have then forced entry into the address discovering both mother and baby with baby not breathing.
“NIAS were able to provide life saving medical treatment and conveyed both mum and baby to Daisy Hill Hospital where both are currently in a stable condition.
“The quick response, professionalism and dedication in an extremely stressful situation has helped save the life of this baby.”
The Local Democracy Reporting Service contacted the Southern Trust to respond to the Daisy Hill SOS spokesperson’s claims.
Deputy chief executive and director of children, young people’s services and women’s health Colm McCafferty said: “Our overriding priority is, and always must be, the safety of women and babies.
“While regional discussions continue with colleagues across the system to explore every available option to secure sufficient clinical expertise, contingency plans are ongoing with trust staff in the event that we must consolidate inpatient maternity services to Craigavon Area hospital in the coming weeks.
“We will continue to keep pregnant women and the public informed as the situation develops.”
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