Both Jim Allister and Phillip McGuigan call for assurances over Causeway Hospital

The MLAs call for services in Coleraine to be retained

North Antrim MLA Jim Allister has called for the 'neccessity of acute services at Causeway Hospital" to be underlined.  Mr Allister made the comments in light of the upcoming Bengoa report on the shape of hospital services in Northern Ireland, and potential reform.

In an adjournment debate at Stormont, Mr Allister affirmed that the services at Causeway needed to be retained.  He added that removal of acute facilities from Coleraine had "Unthinkable" consequences for North Antrim.

Mr Allister therefore called for the Department of health to commit "irreversibly" to keeping the Causeway Hospital and its acute facilities in place.  His comments come a day after fellow North Antrim MLA, Phillip McGuigan also highlighted the importance of the Causeway Hospital.

Mr McGuigan pointed out the rural nature of the North Antrim area, voicing his concerns over response times and the large distances ambulances would need to cover should the Causeway lose its acute services.  Mr McGuigain added that he would also continue to support the Dalriada (Ballycastle) and Robinson (Ballymoney) hospitals