To ask the Minister of Health for an assessment of the impact that the potential temporary suspension of maternity services at Daisy Hill Hospital will have on Craigavon Area Hospital.

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust is undertaking a comprehensive assessment of the potential impact that any temporary suspension of inpatient maternity services at Daisy Hill Hospital may have on Craigavon Area Hospital.

As part of contingency planning, operational modelling is being undertaken to identify the additional capacity required should inpatient maternity services and births temporarily transfer to Craigavon Area Hospital.

Pregnancy, birth and neonatal care represent a continuous pathway rather than a series of discrete services. Women may require varying levels of support throughout pregnancy, including antenatal care, urgent assessment, consultant-led obstetric care, labour and birth services, and neonatal support where required. Any proposed service changes must therefore be considered within the context of the wider pathway and the interdependencies between services.

The Trust is considering how each element of the pathway can continue to be delivered safely, including where women can be cared for locally and where transfer to an alternative site may be required. This includes arrangements for clinical responsibility, transfer pathways, communication, workforce, capacity and patient experience.

Risk, equality and capacity assessments, together with contingency plans, will be required to ensure women and babies continue to receive safe care, including during periods of increased demand, workforce pressures or unforeseen service disruption.

The Trust recognises that any temporary consolidation is likely to increase demand on Craigavon Area Hospital and is assessing potential pressures and mitigating actions. It is also considering the impact on services remaining at Daisy Hill Hospital.

The Trust's primary consideration remains the safety of women and babies while efforts continue to recruit and retain consultant obstetricians.