Independent Unionists Alex Easton MLA and Councillors Bill Keery & Wesley Irvine have today launched an online petition calling on the South Eastern Trust to keep the Newtownards minor Injury Unit open and to reopen the Bangor Minor Injury Unit.
Speaking today Alex Easton MLA said:
“ I and my colleagues firmly believe this is a wrong decision by the SE Trust, we believe that it is vitally important that we oppose this proposal by the SE Trust to close the Bangor and Newtownards Minor Injury Units and give the residents of North Down and Strangford the chance to show their opposition to the SE Trust proposals to close both Units, but to also show that we support the residents and staff who are also contacting us to say the proposals are utter madness .”
“The sheer scale of this madness by management of the SE Trust will see 17,000 patients all pushed up the road to the Ulster Hospital site which does not have the parking infrastructure or infrastructure in terms of staff to cope with this. It will lead to delays and increased waiting times and is a kick in the teeth to the residents of both North Down and Strangford who yet again will see more services being stripped from their local community. This is not about improving services this is about saving money and unless we as a community make a stand this is going to be allowed to happen time and time again.”
“As of this morning the online petition on Face book which has only been up and running for two days has collected 5,355 signatures. We are today calling on the residents of Ards and North Down to come out in their thousands and sign the petition at https://www.change.org/p/save-bangor-and-newtownards-minor-injury-units-from-closure and help us to fight this unnecessary proposed closure of such a valuable facility and also for residents to respond to the consultation at https://setrust.hscni.net/getinvolved/consultations/ and send a clear message to the management of the SE Trust”
Ends:
