The Department of Health’s (DoH) consultation into the future of stroke services in Northern Ireland has been extended for a third time.

The deadline has now been moved from August 2 to August 30.

In a statement the DoH said:

“The Department has received a number of requests to further extend the public consultation periods on reshaping stroke and breast assessment care.

It can now confirm that the consultation closing dates have both been moved back to August 30.

The Department has repeatedly made clear that it wants as many people as possible to take part in these important consultations. The extensions announced today underline that commitment.”

Of the six options put forward in the consultation on stroke services four would see the closure of the stroke unit at Sout West Acute Hospital. 

On July 24 a public meeting on the future of stroke services, due to be held in a hotel in Newtownards, had to be cancelled as more people turned up to attend the event than there was capacity for in the room that the meeting was to be held in.

It is understood more than 150 people attended on the night.