Causeway Hospital “will remain” key part of acute network, says Northern Trust

Causeway Hospital, Coleraine

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has reaffirmed its commitment to Causeway Hospital in Coleraine as the facility marks its 25th anniversary.

Speaking at a meeting of the Trust board at the hospital on Thursday, interim chief executive Suzanne Pullins said the Trust had published an update as it “continues to deliver on its vision” for Causeway Hospital.

The Trust said Causeway Hospital “continues to play a vital role in our hospital network”.

The Northern Trust launched its strategic vision for Causeway Hospital in March 2024. The Trust stated: “Two years on, we are proud of the progress we have made as we deliver on the ambitions contained within our vision.”

Trust board chair Anne O’Reilly said there are still “important decisions” to be made regarding the future of Causeway Hospital.

In May last year, following a public consultation, the Trust board approved a recommendation to centralise emergency general surgery at Antrim Area Hospital, while the majority of planned general surgery would take place at Causeway Hospital.

However, the recommendation still requires approval from the Health Minister and Department of Health before it can be implemented.

All hospital births within the Northern Trust have taken place at Antrim Area Hospital since July 2023 following the end of deliveries at Causeway Hospital.

A six-month review following the amalgamation showed there were 323 births at Antrim Area Hospital and 33 at Causeway Hospital in July 2023. There were 321 births at Antrim in August, 286 in September, 308 in October, 261 in November and 284 in December.

The report also noted that since the consolidation of inpatient maternity services and births at Antrim Area Hospital, six women — involving seven babies, including a set of twins — experienced births before arrival at hospital. Three of the women were from the Causeway locality, while four lived closer to Antrim.

A Causeway Hospital Partnership Board was established in September 2024 and meets three times each year.

The board includes senior Trust staff, community representatives, local elected representatives, representatives from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and members of the Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP).

During Thursday’s meeting, an independent Trust board member said she believed there should be greater involvement from the local community.

Another board member asked for more regular feedback regarding issues being raised by representatives.

“It would be good to understand on an ongoing basis points that are being communicated to them,” he said.

In its latest update, the Northern Trust said:

“As Causeway Hospital marks its 25th year, we remain committed to its future. It is, and will remain, an important part of our acute hospital network and we are continuing to invest in and transform services for the local community.

“By investing in our emergency department, we have been able to expand our consultant team and over the last two years we have appointed six permanent speciality doctors across key specialities including cardiology, frailty and paediatrics.”

The team at Causeway Hospital has also recently been joined by a consultant cardiologist and a consultant paediatrician.

The Trust further noted:

“We recently secured permanent funding to provide a 24/7 mental health liaison service at our emergency department in Causeway Hospital.

“Over the last two years, we have invested £1.8 million in ambulatory (same-day) care which provides assessment, diagnostics and treatment to around 700 patients each month.”

A new MRI scanner has been operational at Causeway Hospital since October 2025 and has been commissioned to provide 4,000 scans annually.