£58million funding boost for Western Health and Social Care Trust

The Health Minister is investing £58million in capital over the next three years to improve health and social care services and facilities in the Western Trust area.

The funding is part of a total planned investment of £570million over the next ten years for health and social care in the Western Trust area.

Speaking on a visit to Omagh and Enniskillen, where he viewed plans for the new enhanced local hospital in Omagh and the new acute hospital in Enniskillen, Michael McGimpsey said: “Securing a high quality and world-class health service for the people of the South West continues to be a key priority for me and my Department. The substantial investment will include a new acute hospital for Enniskillen and a new enhanced local hospital in Omagh as well a mental health inpatient unit and a health and care centre. All of these projects will provide the whole community with modern healthcare facilities fit for the 21st century.”

Commenting on the new enhanced local hospital in Omagh which will be built on the site of the existing Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital in the town, the Minister said: “This represents an exciting and innovative development which will bring together primary, community and intermediate care services on the one site. What this will mean for the people of Omagh and surrounding district will be better access to a wide range of healthcare services, including out-patient clinics; day-case surgery and a wide range of diagnostic procedures.

“I am confident that the new enhanced local hospital will be a huge asset to the population of Omagh and that the range of services proposed reflects the profile of what can be delivered and sustained in the longer term. I have asked the Western Trust to begin the transition towards that new model of service provision and to progress action to ensure safety and sustainability of services at Tyrone County Hospital in the shorter term.”

After viewing the plans for the new enhanced local hospital in Omagh, the Minister travelled to Enniskillen where he launched an exhibition of the new hospital. The Minister said: “This is an exciting day for the people of the South West, because they will be able to see how this new state of the art facility will look when it opens in 2012. Once completed this new hospital will be the first hospital in Northern Ireland to provide 100% single rooms with en-suite facilities. This will mean greater privacy for patients as well as reducing the risk of hospital acquired infections. The new hospital will have a range of acute services including 24 hour accident and emergency, inpatient services including medicine; surgery; paediatrics; obstetrics; gynaecology and critical care and a range of diagnostic services and outpatient services.

Commenting on the planned 10 year investment for the Trust, the Minister said: “My announcement of £570million over the next ten years is another example of how I am investing in our health and social care services. As well as the major projects in Omagh and Enniskillen, Lisnaskea is to get a new health and care centre and at Altnagelvin further developments are planned including a new radiotherapy unit.

“I have worked with all the Health Boards and Trusts to identify key priorities for the next 10 years. By continuing to invest in our services we are ensuring that we have a world class health and social care service, which continues to put patients first.”

Notes to editors:

1. Over the ten year period 2008/09-2017/18 the Department has been allocated a total capital envelope of almost £3.3billion, against an identified need of £7.8billion. Just over £700million of this is earmarked for the Comprehensive Spending Review period with the balance of just over £2.5billion allocated in the remaining period of the Investment Strategy
2. All capital expenditure is subject to the normal business case approval process.
3. Media enquiries to DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0579. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.