Demand for A&E in Downe

Demand for A&E in Downe

13 November 2024

HEALTH campaigners have renewed their call for the restoration of full accident and emergency services at the Downe Hospital.

The Down Community Health Committee is appealing to Recorder readers to show their support by writing to the paper and making their views known.

In particular they want people who have had to wait a long time to be treated at the A&E unit at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald to get in contact.

The Downe operates an urgent care centre with limited opening hours between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday. A minor injuries service operates at the weekend. 

People wishing to use the centre must telephone in advance.

Two months ago, the Recorder highlighted the plight of Downpatrick woman Phil Prendergast who waited for over ten hours after being rushed to the Ulster A&E with a severe stomach pain.

Her experience prompted a huge response on social media from people who complained that they had to endure similar or longer waits before they could be treated.

Mrs Prendergast described what happened to her as an “utter disgrace”.

She said she arrived at the Ulster shortly after 8pm and didn’t leave until just 6am the following day without having seen a doctor.

“I was falling off the chair with exhaustion,” she said. “We had to leave because my husband had to  take our grandson to work.”

In the wake of Mrs Prendergast’s story the health committee announced that it was drawing up plans for a district-wide petition calling for enhanced emergency care services at the Downe.

In addition, it is now urging people to make their views known to health chiefs through the Down Recorder.

A spokesperson for the health committee said: “We want the public to write to the paper sharing their experiences of the Downe urgent care centre and the A&E at the Ulster.

“We want a full A&E service restored at the Downe, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“We want a service where you do not have to make appointments in advance. How can you make an appointment if you have had a heart attack or a stroke? It does not make sense.

“We are not asking for anything special. All we want is the return of something which was taken from us.”

The spokesperson said the committee was not criticising the professionalism and dedication of doctors and nurses at both hospitals.

“We have nothing but praise for the amazing nurses and medical staff and are grateful for all that they do, despite the challenges of the health system they are working in,” the spokesperson added.

Last month, Downpatrick Sinn Fein councillor Oonagh Hanlon said she had never seen so many complaints concerning health services.

She said local health chiefs had expressed an interest in extending the opening hours of the Downe urgent care centre following a proposal by South Down MP Chris Hazzard, but this had not yet happened.

“A petition will give people a voice and they will feel they are being heard. We should encourage it,” Cllr Hanlon added.