If temporary suspension of maternity services proceeds at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry, the Southern Trust expects "knock-on effects" across its healthcare provision, particularly at Craigavon Area Hospital, according to the trust's interim chief executive.
Steve Spoerry told the BBC's The View programme that while the trust "doesn't want this to happen", the likelihood has grown that inpatient maternity services will be relocated. The trust announced on Monday that it has been unable to recruit consultant obstetricians to fill vacant positions at Daisy Hill, forcing contingency planning for a temporary move of birthing services to Craigavon.
According to regional health reporting, the suspension could take effect within six to eight weeks if recruitment efforts fail. No babies would be delivered at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry under the proposed arrangement, though antenatal and postnatal clinics are expected to continue operating there.
What impact would the move have on other services?
Relocating maternity services would create significant ripple effects across the trust's hospital network. Spoerry acknowledged that Craigavon Area Hospital could manage approximately 1,700 additional births annually, but cautioned that this comes at a cost to other provision. "There are knock-on effects from that," he stated, pointing to a potential reduction in elective surgical capacity and the loss of some medical beds that would need to be re-provided elsewhere.
The trust's contingency planning includes possible changes at both hospitals, with extra capacity being arranged at Craigavon Area Hospital and obstetric support being considered for Daisy Hill's Emergency Department to maintain some specialist presence in the area.
Why are obstetricians in short supply?
Spoerry identified the root cause as insufficient training of consultant obstetricians across the medical system. "The fundamental problem is we are not training enough obstetricians," he explained, noting that hospitals located away from training centres—particularly Belfast—face greater recruitment difficulty. Daisy Hill's position in Newry, combined with a relatively demanding on-call rota, compounds the challenge of attracting and retaining specialists.
The trust is working to establish the ratio of obstetricians to deliveries across Northern Ireland's hospitals to better understand the scale of the problem. Spoerry also disclosed that the trust has approached the Irish health service (HSE) to explore potential assistance with the staffing crisis.
The Southern Trust's medical workforce pressures reflect a wider shortage of consultant obstetricians affecting hospitals across Northern Ireland and the UK. Stormont Health Minister Robbie Butler told MLAs that the workforce position had become "increasingly fragile", though he noted that no final decision had yet been taken on the relocation.
What happened at public consultation meetings?
Spoerry attended a public open meeting in Newry where residents raised concerns about service accessibility for women in the area and the continued viability of Daisy Hill Hospital itself. These concerns reflect broader anxiety that the maternity suspension could signal the beginning of further service withdrawals from the facility.
When challenged by SDLP politician Justin McNulty, who suggested the trust was pursuing a "transformation by collapse strategy", Spoerry rejected the characterisation. He stated that the trust had worked hard to maintain obstetric services and had invested in building up the emergency department and acute medicine provision at Daisy Hill.
What are the current staffing arrangements?
Daisy Hill Hospital's maternity unit has become increasingly reliant on locum and temporary staff to maintain services. In the last year, 1,713 babies were born at Daisy Hill, while 2,768 were born at Craigavon Area Hospital, giving the Southern Trust a combined annual delivery total of 4,481 births across its two maternity facilities.
The trust has stated it "cannot run a safe maternity service without the required medical cover" and is planning for a scenario in which permanent consultant obstetrician positions cannot be filled. Dr Beverley Adams, the divisional medical director for Integrated Maternity and Women's Health at the trust, emphasised that affected women will be informed about potential changes as the trust prioritises "safe patient care".
Adams acknowledged that increased travel time would affect more women if services consolidate at Craigavon, but stated the trust has managed similar situations previously and has systems in place to handle the logistics safely.
What support is available for affected women?
The trust has opened a dedicated maternity information line for women with concerns about the proposed changes. The helpline is available Monday to Friday between 14:00 and 17:00, with the number 028 3756 1325. Women are also encouraged to contact their midwife as a first point of contact for information and support.
According to the trust's proactive outreach, all pregnant women due to deliver their babies between now and the end of November are being contacted directly by the maternity team to discuss alternative arrangements. This direct contact approach aims to ensure affected women have adequate notice and support for any changes to their birthing plans.
What happens next?
The temporary consolidation of maternity services could begin from the end of October into November if consultant cover cannot be secured before that point. The trust is continuing active recruitment efforts to try to fill consultant obstetrician vacancies before the planned change takes effect, though Spoerry indicated that success appears unlikely.
Daisy Hill's maternity unit was temporarily suspended in June due to unexpected staff sickness, with services resuming after cover was secured—a precedent that underscores the fragility of current staffing arrangements. The current proposal represents a more permanent solution to what the trust views as an unsustainable situation rather than another temporary measure.
Key Facts:
- The Southern Trust cannot recruit enough consultant obstetricians to maintain safe maternity services at Daisy Hill Hospital
- Temporary suspension of inpatient maternity services could begin within six to eight weeks, with births relocated to Craigavon Area Hospital
- The move would affect approximately 1,700 annual births and create knock-on effects including reduced elective surgical capacity
- Antenatal and postnatal clinics are expected to continue at Daisy Hill, with a dedicated helpline available for affected women
- The staffing shortage reflects a wider medical workforce crisis affecting consultant obstetrician recruitment across Northern Ireland and the UK
