Alliance Councillor Eóin Tennyson has urged people across the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon area to take the opportunity to respond to an ongoing consultation regarding the future of breast assessment services at Craigavon Area Hospital.

Speaking after a public meeting with campaigners and local residents in Armagh this week, Eóin said it was important everyone had an opportunity to raise concerns around this issue.

He added: “There are real concerns about the impact these proposals will have on travel times and patient care in the Southern Trust area. Serious questions need to be addressed surrounding the methodology used in identifying sites for closure.

“How we organise our health and social care services is of fundamental importance to the quality of those services. It is clear that urgent action is required to transform how health and social care services are administered. However, any change needs to be focused on improving accessibility, timeliness and outcomes.

“Reconfiguration must only be carried out in conjunction with frontline staff and service users, following a robust consultation process with appropriate scrutiny and accountability.

“It is important that anyone interested in the future of these services takes part in the consultation process and has their views heard.”