26/07/2019

Consultation Extended On Breast & Stroke Services

A public consultation on reshaping stroke and breast cancer assessment services in Northern Ireland has been extended.

The Department of Health decision follows the postponement of a public engagement meeting on reshaping stroke care in Newtownards after too many people turned up.

The consultation has now been extended until 30 August, an extra four weeks from the original deadline of 02 August.

Among the proposals is the suggestion to reduce breast cancer assessment centres from five to three, consolidating the service to Altnagelvin Area Hospital in L'Derry, Antrim Area Hospital and the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald.

Current centres in Belfast City Hospital and Craigavon would close. 

In addition, between three and five hyper-acute stroke units are proposed within two separate models in an effort to consolidate the service. Stroke treatment units are currently spread over 11 hospitals.

Officials believe restricting the services to fewer sites would improve the quality of care and prevent medical expertise being spread too thinly.

The Department has also announced that the Newtownards engagement event has been rescheduled to Monday 29 July, beginning at 7pm in the town's Queens Hall.

The meeting had been due to go ahead this week in the Strangford Arms Hotel, but was cancelled at the last minute after too many people turned up.



(JG/CM)

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