NI health: Rural lives not an afterthought say campaigners

Rural lives “cannot be an afterthought” when it comes to health transformation, campaigners have said.

In a joint “letter of concern” to the Northern Ireland Executive, four hospital campaign groups have called for a cross-departmental working group on rural health access.

The campaigners have warned that rural communities “face the real threat of being cut off from timely access” to acute and other vital hospital services.

In a statement the Department of Health said “every decision across the health and social care system is taken on the basis of safety and delivery of the best outcomes for all citizens”.

It added: “Minister Butler is acutely aware of the issues faced by those living in rural areas and he takes those issues very seriously.”

Donal O’Cofaigh from Save Our Acute Services (SOAS), based in County Fermanagh, said it is “vital” that executive ministers collectively consider decisions about removing services from local hospitals.

SoS Causeway Hospital group, Save Our Services Daisy Hill and the Down Community Health committee were the other three groups that signed the letter.