Causeway Hospital: Other services will go if emergency surgery removed, campaigners say

August 15, 2026 - 06:42

A coalition of local campaigners has issued a stark warning to the health minister, urging him to reject any proposal that would see emergency surgery removed from Causeway Hospital. They argue that such a move would be the first step toward a broader erosion of services at the Coleraine site, ultimately leaving the local population without vital care close to home.

The group, which includes former hospital staff and community representatives, said that once emergency surgery is taken away, other departments would inevitably follow. They pointed to the hospital's already strained resources and the difficulty in recruiting specialists to the area, suggesting that a downgrade would make the situation worse. The campaigners stressed that the hospital is not just a building but a cornerstone of the local economy and community identity, and that losing this service would have a knock-on effect on everything from ambulance response times to patient outcomes.

The health minister has yet to make a final decision, but the campaigners are calling on him to consider the long-term consequences. They have submitted a detailed response to the consultation, arguing that the current model of care can be made to work with proper investment and staffing. They also warned that any decision to move the service would be met with significant public opposition, and they have pledged to continue their fight until a clear commitment is made to protect the full range of services at Causeway.