AQW 49191/22-27

Mr Andrew McMurray
Alliance Party
South Down

Tabled Date: 19/06/2026
Answered On Date: 15/07/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any plans to move additional (i) elective; and (ii) outpatient, services to Downe Hospital.

Answer:

Downe Hospital plays a vital role in our hospital network. It provides a range of outpatient, diagnostics and day procedure services.

This day procedure centre is recognised as a centre of excellence for cataract surgery, currently delivering seven theatre sessions each week, with in-reach independent sector support at weekends when possible. In addition to cataract, the ophthalmology medical and nursing teams also deliver glaucoma, and oculoplastic theatre lists on site.

Recent Elective Care Framework (ECF) investments in ophthalmology have created additional time-critical capacity in vitreo-retinal and complex glaucoma surgery, and the plan is to decant additional non-complex glaucoma and oculoplastic theatre procedures from Belfast Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust acute sites to Downe.

In addition, the endoscopy service based at the hospital provides investigation for gastro-intestinal disorders to patients in the Downpatrick locality, as well as the broader South Eastern HSC Trust area. The site currently treats over 3,000 endoscopy patients per annum, contributing to the overall reduction in endoscopy waits regionally. As part of the ECF: Implementation and Funding Plan, additional recurrent funding will be provided to further develop endoscopy capacity on the site and full implementation of funding is anticipated by March 2028.