There was standing room only at Coleraine Town Hall when local people gathered to hear concerns about the future of Emergency General Surgery at Causeway Hospital. The meeting, organised by the Causeway Coast branch of public service union UNISON on 13 August, brought together consultant surgeons, retired physicians, political representatives, trade unionists and members of the public to discuss proposals affecting acute services.
Clinicians and the public express strong opposition
UNISON said the meeting was convened following the transfer of consultant‑led maternity services from Coleraine to Antrim Area Hospital and to discuss further potential changes to emergency surgical provision. The union's regional organiser, James Large, told the meeting the North Coast had ‘‘had enough of the continued erosion of acute services at Causeway Hospital’’. He said the strength of feeling in the town hall was "impossible to ignore".
Speakers included consultant surgeons and retired physicians who set out clinical concerns, while political figures declared their opposition to the removal of emergency surgical services. Those attending warned that taking services away from Causeway would add pressure to neighbouring hospitals and reduce local access to urgent care.
Economic as well as health implications highlighted
Attendees also heard from community leaders about wider consequences. Mervyn Whyte, director of the North West 200 motorcycle races, warned that ongoing service reductions at Causeway posed a threat to the viability of the event. He told the meeting the races bring in more than £20 million annually to the local economy and suggested that continued erosion of hospital services should be a "wake‑up call" for decision‑makers.
"The North Coast has had enough of the continued erosion of acute services at Causeway Hospital." — UNISON Regional Organiser James Large
UNISON said Antrim Area Hospital is "already under immense pressure" and argued that Causeway should be part of the solution rather than having services removed which would transfer demand elsewhere. The union emphasised it was not opposed to reform but warned that reform must not be used to justify centralisation that removes vital acute services from local communities.
- Meeting organised by UNISON Causeway Coast branch, held 13 August in Coleraine Town Hall
- Speakers included consultant surgeons, retired physicians, political representatives and community figures
- Concerns raised about pressure on Antrim Area Hospital and potential impact on North West 200 (£20m annual economic contribution)
UNISON said Causeway Hospital has already lost major services and that each further removal "weakens the hospital and raises legitimate fears" for its future. The union made clear it will continue and intensify its campaign to protect Emergency General Surgery at Causeway, promising further challenges to any proposals it regards as harmful.
| Event | Details |
| Organiser | UNISON Causeway Coast branch |
| Venue | Coleraine Town Hall |
| Key local concern | Future of Emergency General Surgery at Causeway Hospital |
| Economic warning | North West 200 contributes £20m+ annually |
For Coleraine residents the debate touches on immediate healthcare access in emergency situations and the broader resilience of local services. The meeting signalled a coalescing alliance of clinicians, staff, community groups, trade unions and political voices opposed to further centralisation of acute services away from Causeway Hospital.
Organisers said this was not the end of their campaign and promised to step up efforts to challenge proposals that would remove emergency surgical provision from the hospital. Local people and representative groups will be watching closely as health authorities consider how to address pressures across trusts while balancing the need to retain accessible acute services in communities such as Coleraine.
