Individual Post

Sinn Féin MLA Megan Fearon has expressed concerns regarding the lack of accessible for facilities for urgent and emergency health care needs in Newry and Armagh, particularly in rural communities.

 

Speaking following contact with the Southern Health & Social Care Trust, Fearon stressed that inadequate ambulance cover, and major concerns with the unavailability of breast cancer treatment facilities, was making healthcare increasingly difficult to access for vulnerable patients.

 

Megan Fearon said:

 

“My contact with the Southern Trust revealed that citizens in Newry and in rural sections of Armagh will have access to breast screenings at a mobile unit in Drumalane.

 

“But for patients whose scan reveals complications, the closest site where they can access urgent treatment in Craigavon.

 

“This puts young people, the elderly, and those in isolated rural communities at a disadvantage as they struggle to access treatment critical to their long-term health.

 

“This appears to be another example of persisting health inequalities in this district as a result of gradually relocating services from Daisy Hill to Craigavon."

 

“All of this exists against the backdrop of poor ambulance cover to rural areas, particularly in South Armagh, and ongoing uncertainty around the future of services at Daisy Hill Hospital.