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| Dalriada hospital to remain open following court decision | Dalriada hospital to remain open following court decision |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Dalriada Hospital, in Ballycastle, County Antrim, has won a temporary reprieve after a judge ruled it must continue to accept new patients. | Dalriada Hospital, in Ballycastle, County Antrim, has won a temporary reprieve after a judge ruled it must continue to accept new patients. |
| This follows a decision by the Northern Health Trust to close the hospital, which also has a multiple sclerosis respite unit. | This follows a decision by the Northern Health Trust to close the hospital, which also has a multiple sclerosis respite unit. |
| Mr Justice Treacy said injustice was likely to follow if the hospital was to close before proper consultation. | |
| The hospital had been due to close for six months as a result of budget cuts. | The hospital had been due to close for six months as a result of budget cuts. |
| The move follows a judicial review taken by an MS patient who is campaigning against the proposed closure. | The move follows a judicial review taken by an MS patient who is campaigning against the proposed closure. |
| Campaigners say they are "elated" at the decision. | Campaigners say they are "elated" at the decision. |
| Dalriada is a small community-based hospital in County Antrim and it is also home to Northern Ireland's only respite unit for patients with MS. | Dalriada is a small community-based hospital in County Antrim and it is also home to Northern Ireland's only respite unit for patients with MS. |
| Overturned | Overturned |
| In October, as part of the cuts to the health service, the Northern Health trust announced the MS unit would temporarily close. | In October, as part of the cuts to the health service, the Northern Health trust announced the MS unit would temporarily close. |
| Health Minister Jim Wells later said that the hospital would not admit new patients. | Health Minister Jim Wells later said that the hospital would not admit new patients. |
| In the High Court on Thursday, Mr Justice Treacy overturned this decision and ordered that new patients must be admitted. | In the High Court on Thursday, Mr Justice Treacy overturned this decision and ordered that new patients must be admitted. |
| While this is a temporary move, the judge said the balance of justice comes down in favour of granting interim relief until a judicial review case, which has been brought by a patient, is heard in full. | While this is a temporary move, the judge said the balance of justice comes down in favour of granting interim relief until a judicial review case, which has been brought by a patient, is heard in full. |
| While five members of staff have already been redeployed, the court instructed the Northern Trust to immediately halt any further action. | While five members of staff have already been redeployed, the court instructed the Northern Trust to immediately halt any further action. |
| Campaigners said the non-admission policy was a means to bring about the closure of the unit. | Campaigners said the non-admission policy was a means to bring about the closure of the unit. |
| A department spokesperson said: "The primary obligation is for the Northern Trust to comply with today's court ruling. | A department spokesperson said: "The primary obligation is for the Northern Trust to comply with today's court ruling. |
| "The trust will need to urgently review what actions are available to them to achieve the £6.9m savings required to break even by the end of the financial year." | "The trust will need to urgently review what actions are available to them to achieve the £6.9m savings required to break even by the end of the financial year." |