Newry and Mourne Council will be staging a public rally and march this weekend against plans to axe the stroke unit at the city’s Daisy Hill Hospital.
The march takes place on Saturday, assembling at Marcus Square for 12 midday. It will make its way to Daisy Hill Hospital for 2pm.
Local political representatives are urging the public to come out and show their support for the hospital.
Newry and Armagh MLA Mickey Brady has said that a report on some of the outstanding services offered in the Southern Trust area are proof that those services need “protected and maintained, not stripped back”.
Mr Brady, who is chair of the Assembly’s All Party Group on Chest, Heart and Stroke, was speaking after the group’s annual general meeting this week.
“The medical subject of the AGM was Cardiac Rehabilitation and the highly respected Dr Michael Knapton was the guest speaker,” he said.
“He was of the very strong opinion that the Southern Trust had the best record for this type of service, not only in the north, but probably in all of Ireland or Britain.
“I therefore think it’s crucial that the services we have here, especially ones of this standard, are supported and maintained, not stripped away or devalued.
“So with that in mind, I would urge as many people as possible to come out on Saturday to the Support Daisy Hill march and show the Trust that we value these services, we need these services and we will defend them.”
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