BBCProtesters gathered outside Causeway Hospital on Saturday for a demonstration against proposals to remove emergency surgery from the site.
The rally was organised by the SoS Causeway Hospital Group who say the march highlights that members of the Causeway Coast and Glens community oppose the plan.
The Northern Health Trust has proposed moving Emergency General Surgery (EGS) onto one hospital site, most likely at Antrim Area Hospital. Currently, it is spread between Antrim and Causeway Hospitals.
Senior management have said that the current dual system is “not sustainable”.
If the proposals go ahead, it would mean that planned, uncomplicated surgery would be carried out solely on the Causeway site.
Campaigners say the public has not been reassured or convinced that the move will improve waiting list lengths and times, or improve people’s health and well-being.
The march on Saturday began at Causeway Hospital and finished at Coleraine Town Hall.
Gemma Brolly, the chairperson of the SOS Causeway Hospital Group, led the speeches at the rally saying: “I’m appealing to the minister – and the trust – to go back to the drawing board to design the way forward.”
William Taylor from Farmers For Action said rural hospitals are a necessity not an option.
He added: “The service is very important for rural areas.”
DUP MLA Maurice Bradley said they needed a different solution.
He said: “It leaves a large area without acute services – and totally reliant on ambulance care which is under resourced.”
Dr Fergal Tracey is a retired consultant who worked at the Causeway Hospital.
He said “This is potentially a big downgrade for the hospital. Antrim hospital is critically overstretched – as is the ambulance service.”
In a statement, the Department of Health (DoH) said the northern trust public consultation process concluded at the end of November and the trust will be considering the findings.
It added that the DoH and Public Health Agency will continue to work with the trust as it continues to develop plans for the reconfiguration of general surgical services across its hospital sites.
It also says any change to services will be taken in line the Department’s Guidance on Change and Withdrawal of services and will require approval by the minister.
