Local health charity, Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke, has welcomed the publication by Mike Nesbitt, the Health Minister, of a consultation document about hospital changes.
"Mike Nesbitt is to be applauded for moving ahead with proposals to reconfigure hospital services in Northern Ireland. Change is absolutely essential if we are to modernise our services and to ensure that people in the Northern Ireland get the best possible health and social care services.”
“Change is always unsettling, but NICHS believes that the public are willing to welcome changes that will allow improved, and more sustainable, services - even if that means they, on occasion, have to travel further.”
“We know that services, such as stroke services, are not as good as they could and should be. We need to change to improve. Better outcomes will only come if we reconfigure our hospitals. This is not about 'closures' it is about providing the best possible care.”
“NICHS very much welcomes this consultation and will work with the public and patients to ensure their voices are heard."
