// BBC HEALTH NEWS — SALUTE
'What does it say if a woman can't give birth in her own city?'
Natasha Daryaie said the 40-mile journey while in premature labour was "scary"
A woman who was rushed 40 miles (64km) to a maternity unit after going into premature labour says her experience shows why services must remain at her local hospital.
Because she required specialist care, midwives at Daisy Hill in Newry wanted to send Natasha Daryaie to Craigavon Area Hospital but were told there was no room.
The Southern Health Trust plans to temporarily transfer inpatient maternity services from Daisy Hill to Craigavon because it has been unable to recruit enough consultant obstetricians to safely staff both hospitals.
A spokesperson for the trust said that, following operational and workforce assessments, inpatient maternity care at Craigavon had been identified as the safest and most sustainable arrangement for maintaining services.
In 2025, 1,713 babies were born at Daisy Hill Hospital
The trust says it is continuing efforts to recruit consultant obstetricians for Daisy Hill while preparing to temporarily consolidate births and inpatient maternity care at Craigavon from 23 November.
However, mothers in the Newry area say losing local inpatient maternity services would leave families facing longer journeys at a time when they may need urgent care.
"The journey was scary. I was having contractions every five minutes but a midwife from Daisy Hill travelled with me to the Ulster Hospital where I spent four nights, was stabilised and then sent home," Natasha said.
"What does it say if a woman can't give birth in her own city?"