13/10/2026
Last week I tabled a notice of motion to Council along with my colleague Cllr Killian Feehan .
(The wording is below👇)
Maternity services at Daisy Hill are essential for our local area.
Huge thanks for the cross party support on such an important issue. 🫶 Let’s hope there is a solution and soon , as this worry for local women is so very unfair.
“That this Council recognises the vital role of inpatient maternity services at Daisy Hill Hospital and the importance of safe, accessible maternity care for women across Newry, Mourne and Down and the wider region; expresses its concern at the staffing pressures threatening the sustainability of the service and believes that women should not face unequal access to maternity care because of where they live; calls on the Minister for Health, Department of Health and Southern Health and Social Care Trust to work urgently to support recruitment and retention at Daisy Hill, protect inpatient maternity services and deliver a safe, sustainable solution that works for women, families and staff.
Council further calls for the Department of Health to review and reform the current arrangements for the recruitment, employment and deployment of specialist medical staff across Trusts, with consideration given to a region-wide approach that enables staff to be deployed according to need and supports more equitable terms and conditions, helping to address persistent recruitment and retention challenges.”
