Armstrong expresses his concern over proposed withdrawal of services at the Mid-Ulster Hospital
Ulster Unionist Assembly Member for Mid-Ulster, Billy Armstrong, has expressed his concern following reports which suggest that the maternity unit at the Mid-Ulster Hospital in Magherafelt is to close, possibly as early as this summer.
In a statement, Mr Armstrong said: “Like the vast majority of the Mid-Ulster public I am concerned at plans to remove maternity services and 24-hour accident and emergency from the Mid-Ulster Hospital.
“My concern is rooted in a knowledge that there are no replacement facilities catering for those who would have used these services. I’m all for lessening bureaucracy but what I’m firmly against is removing services when there are no visible replacements in place.
“I encourage the public to respond to the consultation which is open for 12 weeks. Once again health services in this sub-Region are being pressurised. I will not accept that the people of this part of the Province should be treated to a standard of health service which is not comparable to other parts of the Province and indeed, other Regions of the United Kingdom.
“I will continue to lobby vigorously for the retention of appropriate services for people at a localised level.
“The Mid-Ulster Hospital has served the people of this part of the Province impeccably over the years. Lives have undoubtedly been saved because of the presence of maternity services and 24-hour accident and emergency. I believe that lives could be endangered if these services are removed prematurely.”