Acute surgery stopped at hospital

Non-emergency operations will continue at the hospital

Emergency surgery will no longer be carried out at Lagan Valley Hospital in Lisburn from the beginning of February.

NI Health Minister Shaun Woodward's approval of the Eastern Health Board's decision is thought to be a formality.

The decision to strip acute services from Lagan Valley Hospital was made following a risk assessment received by the Down Lisburn Trust last autumn.

DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson said he wants reassurances hospitals in Belfast will be able to cope with the extra surgery.

He said he was concerned about the road works about to begin on the Westlink.

"One major concern about the development of the Westlink was the disruption which it will cause for emergencies trying to gain access to either the City or the Royal hospitals.

"Surely this needs to be considered alongside the decision to withdraw the emergency services from Lagan Valley," Mr Donaldson said.

The Lagan Valley risk assesment report highlighted "considerable" dangers, including difficulties in recruiting surgical staff.

The hospital will continue to carry out non-emergency surgery, with Belfast's hospitals expected to send more patients there for treatment.

Down Lisburn Trust's John Simpson played down Westlink concerns

John Simpson of Down Lisburn Trust said they wanted to focus on establishing the hospital as a centre for planned routine surgery for greater Belfast.

"The strategic role that Lagan Valley plays is to do routine work that will help shorten waiting lists," he said.

Mr Simpson played down concerns that three years of major roadworks planned for Belfast's Westlink would make it more difficult for patients to be transferred from Lisburn to hospitals there.

"We have been given assurances that there will be a blue-light ambulance lane maintained at all times on the Westlink," he said.

"I am confident that, in partnership with the Ambulance Service and with our colleagues in Belfast, we can safely provide the service."