Farmers For Action Steering Committee members have said they are ‘furious’ with top civil servants in the NHS and the Northern Trust for ‘continuing to try and remove vital hospital services’.

Sean McAuley, FFA claimed: “Recently they moved maternity from Causeway to Antrim Area Hospital and now they are set to remove emergency surgery and all of this must be stopped and reversed!

"Information that FFA and other protesting organisations and Unions have indicated that maternity at Antrim is snowed under and not able to function properly as it used to at Coleraine. In addition, higher than usual absence rates with the maternity services team are emerging!

"Everyone will be invited to a meeting in Coleraine on the removal of emergency surgery and other and your support is needed! Date and venue to be published shortly which will include all the organisations involved in the protest.

"This madness has to be stopped and your help is needed, please attend the forthcoming meeting to hold NI National Health top management, the Minister and the Trusts to account.”