AQO 1877/22-27
Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry
Tabled Date: 27/03/2025
Answered On Date: 08/04/2025
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Health for an update on the delayed review of general surgery at Causeway Hospital.
Answer:
Over the past months, the Northern Health and Social Care Trust has continued to develop plans for the reconfiguration of general surgical services across its hospital sites and has been developing and appraising options for a more compliant, sustainable surgical configuration in the context of the Department’s Review of General Surgery. The public consultation on the Trust Review of General Surgery Service has now concluded, and it was the intention of the Northern Trust to bring the outcome and a proposed way forward to their Trust Board later this month. The Trust has been liaising closely with colleagues in the Department of Health throughout and following the consultation process to look at the impact of any proposed service change on staff, patients and the wider community. It is important that all views and responses have been considered and implications across the service included before the final recommendation of this review is completed. Northern Health and Social Care Trust is finalising the work on the wider implications of any proposed service change and anticipated impacts to ensure all feedback and implications have been considered. Northern Trust anticipates that the consultation outcome and associated proposals will be brought to the Trust Board in May for agreement. Following this, the Trust will bring forward its proposals to the Department for consideration and a recommendation on any proposed service change will be brought forward for decision. The final decision on any permanent change to general surgery services rests with me as Minister of Health.
|