UNISON WELCOMES RETURN TO DAISY HILL

UNISON, the largest union in the health and social care system, has welcomed the latest announcement from Shane Devlin, the Chief Executive of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, that Daisy Hill Hospital will be fully functioning and that emergency medicine will soon return.

UNISON Regional Organiser, Nuala Conlon, said: "We welcome these assurances from the Chief Executive, assurances UNISON sought at the beginning of the lockdown period when the Trust was suspending services at Daisy Hill. We will be seeking clarity from the Trust on how quickly the Emergency Department will be reopened and how issues like social distancing will be managed to protect both the public and our members.

''UNISON has been campaigning for several years to protect and strengthen the Emergency Department at Daisy Hill. The ED in Daisy Hill is in much demand - with the vast catchment area stretching from Newcastle to Crossmaglen to Newtownhamilton. The Covid 19 crisis has highlighted the importance the public place on our NHS and their staff. Although the weekly Clap for Carers has ended, the general public are continuing to show their support for our frontline health workers, both in the NHS and the private sector.

UNISON Newry and Mourne Branch Secretary, Catherine Farrell said: "Our members have received well deserved praise from the public as to the way they have worked and continue to work in our hospital throughout the pandemic. We are continuing to meet with Trust Management to plan the way forward for the return of services to Daisy Hill."