'Disappointment' Following Recommendation to Reduce Emergency Surgery Services at Causeway

They might soon cut out the quick fix surgery at Causeway Hospital. Now, the Northern Health Trust wants to give this service at only one of its spots. They say they like the idea of having EGS at Antrim Area Hospital more.


Adele Tomb said she felt "super let down by the Trust's pick". She said that they gave no "comfort" about their worries. "We think that cutting general surgery from Causeway Hospital will mess up other things there."


James Patterson, who works at Causeway Hospital, liked the plan. "Our job is to make sure all our people in the trust get the top care in both fast and set times we can give", he said. "I really think we must do this, because if not, we might see our service break down. We have to keep up our care in a steady and lasting way. Going on till a break is just not an option."


Dr Owen Finnegan, who once worked at Causeway Hospital, said the trust's reply "was very simple." "They did not look into the big worries shared by the staff at both Causeway and Antrim.


"I am very worried that this will not lead to good results, even though the head leader said it would. It will lead to bad results, not just for Causeway but for Antrim and for all of the Northern Trust as well."


The top bosses said that having the same work at both places has made it hard for the hospitals and that the way things are now was "not lasting." They had two ways to pick from, either a planned change in how they work or letting it all fail. They picked to manage that change.


The Trust said that the people who gave their thoughts were mostly against the change in how things work. But, the Trust said they think the move is needed. Trust Head Jennifer Welsh said the review was "very hard."


This will cover fast help for things like a bad tummy ache or a stuck gut. The Causeway place will be the spot for planned easy cuts. This is a low tough kind of cut that can be set up, like taking out a gallbladder.


As it is now, hurt people, like ones in car crashes, will go to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast for help.