A protest against plans to transfer emergency surgery services from Causeway Hospital to Antrim was held in Coleraine on Saturday.
Organised by campaign group SOS Causeway Hospital, the march was held in opposition to the Northern Trust’s plans to consolidate emergency general surgery (EGS) at Antrim Area Hospital.
This would leave Causeway Hospital’s operating theatres focussing on diagnostic and elective surgeries.
More: Rally for ‘Christmas miracle’ to keep emergency surgery services at Causeway Hospital
On Saturday, protestors gathered outside the hospital with signs and banners before marching to Coleraine’s town hall.
Those gathered in the busy town centre heard speeches from individuals involved with the group, including former health professionals, in addition to DUP MLA Maurice Bradley.
SOS Causeway Hospital Chairperson Gemma Brolly told The Irish News that the group ‘didn’t feel confident’ that the decision to move emergency surgery services to Antrim was the best decision or that the proposals were safe for the local community.
“We’re watching centralisation of services into cities and away from areas like the north coast,” she said.
“We wanted to deliver a message to the trust: it doesn’t end here. We’re not going to stop in this.”
“We have had stories within our group from people whose lives have been saved within Causeway,” she added.
“We do honestly believe that they know this is not a safe decision at the minute.”
They intend to meet with the trust for fresh meetings in order to find an alternative solution to the current proposals.
“We’re not going to let up on the pressure,” she said.
“Let us work as a community and a trust together on this.
“We’re not saying that everything has to stay the way it is.
“We are completely in agreement and applaud the proactive actions in that they want to avoid the collapse that has happened in other hospitals, but we do believe there has to be a better way of doing this and, working together, we will find that way.”
The public consultation for the proposals ended at the end of November, with the trust now reviewing responses.
