Maternity services at Daisy Hill Hospital resume after suspension

Maternity services at Daisy Hill Hospital have resumed following a temporary suspension.

In a statement, on Saturday evening, the Southern Health and Social Care Trust said it had "successfully secured medical cover for obstetrics and gynaecology services".

Earlier, as a result of "unexpected sickness", the trust had said it was "unable to provide safe medical cover" in that department at the Newry site this weekend.

Later, the trust said "business as usual will resume" from 21:00 BST and the "divert to Craigavon Area Hospital will be stood down".

"The trust continues to face ongoing medical staffing challenges within obstetrics and gynaecology at Daisy Hill," they added.

Earlier, a small number of maternity patients in the hospital had been transferred to Craigavon Area Hospital to continue their care.

The Southern Trust said the decision was taken to ensure the safety of women and babies.

It apologised for any concern or inconvenience caused and said the temporary move forms part of its service continuity arrangements when staffing pressures arise.

The chair of the British Medical Association's (BMA) Northern Ireland council had described the temporary suspension as "an inevitable consequence" of staff shortages.

"To be able to maintain current services we need to attract new staff and retain current staff by valuing them properly for the work they do," Dr Alan Stout said.

"Clearly the system is failing at addressing this issue."

Earlier, Sinn Féin MLA Liz Kimmins told BBC News NI that she has been engaging with senior representatives within the Southern Health Trust and it was her understanding that it's "due to a lack of staffing cover which left it unsafe essentially for expectant mothers coming in".

She said it was an "unacceptable" situation, but added that there are a number of jobs that need filled that make it "very challenging".

"We have recently met the trust, we were aware that there are vacancies that they are actively recruiting for, and I think when situations like this arise, where the only cover they have is unable to come in and it was due to sickness, we realise just how critical it is that we get this service stabilised."

DUP MLA Diane Forsythe said the temporary closure "has understandably caused serious concerns for staff and patients".

"I have been in contact with the management of the trust and Department of Health overnight escalating concerns," she said in a statement.

"There are a number of questions needing answered on this which I will follow up on."

She added there "needs to be clarity and measures in place so this does not happen again".

Justin McNulty, from the SDLP, said the suspension had been causing "dismay" among midwives and mothers, who he said "deserve better".

The MLA added that he has sought an urgent meeting with the chief executive of the Southern Trust "seeking reassurance that the appropriate actions will be taken to ensure this does not happen again".