Lagan Valley Hospital

The hospital has its origins in the Lisburn Union Workhouse and Infirmary that opened during the famine in 1841. It became the Lisburn and Hillsborough District Hospital in 1921. In February 2008, the trust announced that maternity services were to cease at the hospital in 2009. The decision sparked major controversy and heralded the 'Save our Services' campaign, which was backed by local politicians and local newspaper, the Ulster Star. The move was part of measures to cut costs; however it has been claimed that the closure will put other hospitals in the region into 'meltdown'. A senior member of maternity liaison committee stated that it would have a 'detrimental impact', as hospitals in…