SOS Causeway Hospital vows to oppose emergency surgery move to Antrim Area

Causeway Hospital, Coleraine

Campaign group SOS Causeway Hospital has said it will “oppose any attempt to remove emergency surgery without clear evidence that access to the best standard of care and patient safety will be protected”.

In a statement issued to the Local Democracy Reporting Service as Causeway Hospital in Coleraine marks its 25th anniversary, group chair Gemma Brolly said SOS Causeway Hospital would “insist that consultation responses are not only collected but genuinely considered”.

In May last year, following a public consultation, the Northern Health and Social Care 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.

The recommendation still requires approval from the Health Minister and the 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.

SOS Causeway Hospital said:

“The long-standing pattern of consultations being carried out, responses being gathered, and then little weight being given to the views of local people remains a serious issue. Communities have taken the time to respond thoughtfully, only to feel unheard.

“That must change, particularly in the face of yet another centralisation proposal involving the transfer of emergency surgery from Causeway Hospital to Antrim Area Hospital.

“Decisions of this scale cannot be made without robust evidence, transparent reasoning, and genuine engagement with those who rely on Causeway Hospital every day. The geography of this area, the travel times involved, and the safety implications for patients must be fully recognised and respected.”

Speaking at last week’s meeting of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust board at Causeway Hospital, interim chief executive Suzanne Pullins reaffirmed the Trust’s commitment to the Coleraine hospital.

The Trust has stated that Causeway Hospital “continues to play a vital role in its hospital network”.

The Trust board previously acknowledged that its recommendation “will not be welcomed by some in our local community who have raised very genuine concerns about any proposed change”.

Former chief executive Jennifer Welsh said at the time:

“I know there is tremendous depth of feeling on this issue, including from some of our own staff, and throughout the consultation period we have met with a wide range of stakeholders and heard concerns from our local community about our proposals to transform how we deliver general surgery services.”

She added that the process had “provided us with fresh insights and new perspectives, allowing us to go away and interrogate the data and dig deeper to give ourselves the assurances we need that this is the correct course of action”.

However, she warned that the Trust “cannot continue to provide emergency general surgery across both our acute sites. If we do not act now and plan for service change, we are facing an inevitable collapse”.

The Trust has also indicated that new Department of Health standards for emergency and elective surgery, outlined in the Department’s 2022 Review of General Surgery, cannot be fully met without reconfiguration.

Speaking at last week’s meeting, Trust board chair Anne O’Reilly said there are “important decisions” to be made regarding Causeway Hospital.

An independent member said she believed there should be greater community involvement in the Causeway Hospital Partnership Board, which was established in September 2024 and meets three times a year.

The board is made up of senior Trust staff, community representatives, local elected representatives, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service representatives, and members of the Policing and Community Safety Partnership.

Another independent member asked for feedback on issues being raised by the community.

Gemma Brolly continued:

“Causeway Hospital has enormous strengths: dedicated staff, strong community support, and a proven record of delivering high-quality care. But it also faces real threats, including under-investment and the ongoing erosion of acute services. The community cannot be expected to continually fight to retain essential care.

“SOS Causeway Hospital will continue to champion Causeway as a full, functioning acute hospital. We will oppose any attempt to remove emergency surgery without clear evidence that access to the best standard of care and patient safety will be protected.

“We will insist that consultation responses are not only collected but genuinely considered. And we will continue to call for honest communication, early engagement, and decision-making that reflects the needs of the people this hospital serves.

“Above all, we reaffirm our heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Causeway Hospital, past and present. Their dedication and care at the coalface will never be forgotten. Their skill, compassion, and resilience are the foundation on which the next 25 years must be built. The community stands firmly behind them, in deep gratitude.”