Relocation of community nursing team described as "concerning"

by Gráinne Connolly

A Newry, Mourne and Down Councillor has called a meeting with the Southern Trust to discuss the relocation of a South Armagh community nursing team. 

It comes after the Trust announced the nursing team which serves the wider Newry and south Armagh areas will be moved from their current sites to Ivybrook in Newry. 

Councillor Róisín Mulgrew says this was worrying:

"This is a cause of concern. For example the staff and services provided in and  from Bessbrook Clinic serve a wide rural area.

"The logic for removing staff from Bessbrook to travel to Newry and then travel back out to Bessbrook, makes no sense either to staff or many of those in the community I have discussed the issue with”.

“Myself and Mickey (Mickey Brady, local MP) intend meeting with staff on whom this decision was bounced on without any prior consultation.

"We also hope to meet with the Trust to make clear our serious concerns about this proposed removal of the staff.

"Unfortunately when things like this happen it signals the end of a service and we can’t allow that to happen. Bessbrook Clinic is valued by the community and essential to the health and well being of all in the area ”

Newry and Armagh MP Mickey Brady commenting on the issue said, “Staff like myself are worried about the impact on service to patients.

"This has to be a priority. The area served is a large rural community and the Bessbrook facility was viewed as an effective and efficient hub”.