Poots ‘hugely impressed’ by new South West Acute Hospital

Health Minister Edwin Poots today inspected the ongoing construction of Northern Ireland’s new state-of-the-art hospital and saw for himself how patient care will be delivered using the very latest technology.
~ Wednesday, 1 February 2012

During a visit to the Enniskillen site, Mr Poots also confirmed that the new facility will be called the South West Acute Hospital. The Minister also visited the Western Trust’s job fair in Enniskillen, where 100 new jobs are on offer in the new hospital which opens in June 2012.

It is the first hospital in Northern Ireland to be built with 100% single ensuite rooms. The single rooms will not only address the needs of patients, but each is specifically designed to address infection control issues.

Built on a 52-acre site with a capital investment of £270million from the Department of Health, the new 300-bed hospital will begin admitting patients in June, just three years after construction began.

Speaking during his visit today, where he was accompanied by senior officers from Western Trust and the Northern Ireland Health Group, Mr Poots said: “I have been hugely impressed by this new state of the art healthcare facility for the people of Fermanagh and Tyrone and I am looking forward to the opening in June 2012.

“The South West Acute Hospital will offer a wide range of invaluable services including 24/7 emergency services; critical care services; inpatient medicine; major and emergency surgery; paediatric services; day-case surgery; a comprehensive range of diagnostics, including radiology and laboratory tests and a wide range of outpatient services.

“The hospital will also offer the most modern maternity services designed around the needs of the mothers and their families such including consultant-led and midwife-led care and a 24 hour epidural service.

“It will also offer 100% single room wards which have been designed around the needs of patients. These rooms will provide patients with a little more comfort and dignity at what will undoubtedly be a difficult time.”

The hospital is due for completion in May 2012 and expected to be operational by June 2012.

The Minister added: “I would also like to pay tribute to the Western Trust staff and the Department’s health estates team, who have been involved with the project from its beginnings and the delivery consortium, Northern Ireland Health Group.”

Welcoming the Health Minister to the new hospital facility, Western Trust Chairman Gerard Guckian said: “We are progressing as planned with the full range of preparations required to ensure that the facility is fully commissioned and staff are ready to receive patients when doors open in June 2012. Our staff are excited about the prospect of working in this new environment and look forward to delivering a high quality service to the people of Tyrone and Fermanagh for years to come.

“We are currently planning for the safe and smooth transfer of patients and staff to the new hospital and I am very pleased to see everything is on track for the opening later this year."

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