Campaigners opposed to the closure of maternity services at Causeway Hospital in Coleraine have vowed to fight on even after the Department of Health confirmed its decision had been made.
The Department's permanent secretary, Peter May, said on Thursday that the decision to halt births at the Co Derry hospital has been made, with the cut set to take effect next month.
But the chair of a campaign group opposing the closure, Gemma Brolly, has told Belfast Live campaigners are exploring legal options to oppose the decision.
Read more: Coleraine: Causeway Hospital births to move to Antrim as plans approved by Department of Health
"We have a few legal options open to us regarding the consultation, and regarding the decision being taken by civil servants when it was a decision that should have been taken by a minister," she said.
"We are asking people to channel their frustration, to channel their fury into the campaign."
Ms Brolly, who helped organise a number of public rallies and meetings against the closure, said there is widespread disappointment with the maternity services cut and anxiety amongst pregnant women in the local area.
"We have been inundated by stories that would tears to your eyes, stories of mothers who have not even made it as far as Causeway to have their babies," she said.
"Some of those stories are of mothers who have lost children and who are now pregnant again, and they are so anxious.
"It is really difficult as a Mammy to read those stories and to know the really excellent care that has been provided, life saving care in many of the stories, provided by Causeway."
She continued: "I know of a mother sitting in Portrush at the minute who has had two traumatic births and is now expecting again. "She is in a real predicament now as to what hospital does she use. That's just one case but there are others similar to that."
"There's over 17,000 people who have signed our petition. There's a question here of equality being based on where we live. We feel we have been denied discussion, we have been denied a voice on this.
"Responses from the consultation are against this move. We all believe this decision was made before the consultation. We [campaigners] are going nowhere. In fact, people are infuriated."
She added: "I have spoken to midwives who are devastated by the news."
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