Southern Health Trust to temporarily move maternity services from Daisy Hill to Craigavon

The Southern Health Trust announced plans to temporarily transfer inpatient maternity services from Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry to Craigavon Area Hospital. This decision comes amid challenges in recruiting enough consultant obstetricians to safely staff both hospitals, according to the trust's spokesperson, as reported by BBC Health.

Following operational and workforce assessments, the trust identified inpatient maternity care at Craigavon as the safest and most sustainable option to maintain services. The transfer is scheduled to begin on November 23, with ongoing efforts to recruit consultants for Daisy Hill continuing.

Local mothers have expressed concerns about the impact of losing inpatient maternity services at Daisy Hill, highlighting the difficulties of longer journeys during urgent care needs. One woman shared her experience of being rushed 40 miles while in premature labor due to lack of space at Craigavon, describing the journey as "scary."

In 2025, Daisy Hill Hospital recorded 1,713 births, underscoring its role in the community. The trust's plan aims to balance safety and sustainability while addressing staffing shortages, but the change raises questions about access to local care for families in the Newry area.