Minister outlines services for new Omagh hospital
Monday, 14 January 2008Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said he hoped to make an announcement soon on the review into ambulance service provision in Fermanagh and West Tyrone and the feasibility of a midwife-led maternity unit in Omagh.
Speaking after a meeting with David McKee and Stanley Millar from the Omagh Hospital Campaign group, the Minister outlined the services which would be available in the new £190million enhanced local hospital.
He said: “I welcome the opportunity the meeting offered to set the record straight and to confirm the full range of services which the new hospital would provide. Services will include a doctor-led, 24/7 Urgent Care and Treatment Centre, day case surgery, inpatient beds, renal dialysis, a new health and care centre and a major acute inpatient mental health facility.
“As part of my commitment to providing high quality and accessible services to people in the Omagh area, I have asked officials to look at a number of areas which could be developed.
“I realise that one of the key areas of concern for the population is emergency cover. It is vital, if someone is in a car accident or has had a heart attack that an ambulance will arrive quickly. In response to those concerns I asked the Western Board to draw up proposals to improve the ambulance response in Fermanagh and West Tyrone.
“I have also asked the Board to carry out a study on the feasibility of establishing a midwife-led maternity unit in Omagh. Work is progressing well and I hope to make an announcement on both these issues soon.”
Turning to the issue of acute medicine, the Minister reminded the campaign group that it had always been the case that acute inpatient services would be provided from the new £275million acute hospital in Enniskillen.
He said: “The decision to locate the acute hospital in Enniskillen will not change – I have made that clear, just as many previous ministers have made that clear. Acute inpatient services will be provided from the new hospital in Enniskillen. Both new hospitals in the South West will work with Altnagelvin and Craigavon to share best practice and deliver high quality health services to people living in the west.
“I have asked the Western Trust to set up a group of interested individuals to become involved in the development of the new hospitals. I have asked representatives from the Campaign Group to join and make sure they help influence this process.
“I know there are still concerns among the local population about the future of health services and I am aware that many of these concerns are fuelled by rumour and misunderstanding. I can assure you that the new hospitals will be built and will create significant employment opportunities, and more significantly, provide excellent health services in state-of-the-art facilities.”
Notes to Editors:
1. Proposed Hospital Service Provision in the Southwest
Services at the enhanced local hospital in Omagh
The enhanced local hospital in Omagh is expected to provide 70 to 80% of the hospital services required by the local population. The new hospital will facilitate the delivery of those services in a modern and welcoming setting. Services are expected to include:
Urgent Care and Treatment Centre
This will be a ‘walk-in’ unit for adults and children. It will include the following:
- Minor Injuries unit – open 24 hours daily
- 24-hour access to x-ray services including CT scanner
- Co-located GPs out-of-hours service
Inpatient Centre
This unit will care for patients who, for example, need rehabilitation following strokes, surgery or serious illness so that they can recover closer to their home. It will also include:
- Clinical decision service
- Palliative care
- Day hospital facilities for treatment of chronic conditions providing access to specialist nurses, therapy and advice.
Mental Health services
This unit will provide a full range of mental health services including:
- Inpatient acute mental health services
- Inpatient psychiatric intensive care
- Inpatient mental health services for older people
- Addiction treatment unit challenging behaviour unit
- Community Mental Health Team
- Psycho-sexual Team
Ambulatory Care Centre
This walk-in centre will provide the following:
- Outpatients services
- Day surgery and day procedures
- Endoscopy services
- Diagnostics (including CT scanning)
- Renal dialysis
- Children’s services
- Women’s outpatients unit including ante and post natal care
- Physiotherapy/occupational therapy/speech therapy
- Podiatry
- Diabetic centre
Health & Care Centre
The Trust plans to co-locate a health and care centre on the site of the new local hospital. This centre will provide a wide range of services and therapies for the people living in the Omagh area including:
- Family and child care services
- Elderly care teams
- Primary care services
- Community mental health
- Health Promotion
- Health & Disability
- Dental Services
Potential additional services
In addition, the Trust has identified a number of potential ‘new’ services including:
- the expansion of day surgery to include the transfer of day surgery from the Erne and Altnagelvin to Tyrone County Hospital;
- a significant increase in diagnostics including radiology and endoscopy services;
- more rehabilitation services and a bigger role in rehabilitation for people with fractures;
- more ambulatory care; and
- a wider range of services to support the management of chronic disease in the community.
Services at the South West Acute Hospital
The new acute hospital will provide access to a wide range of acute services for the people of the south west.
This will include:
- 24/7 A&E
- Inpatient services
- Medicine
- Care of the elderly
- Surgery
- Paediatrics
- Obstetrics and gynaecology
- Critical care
- Day case surgery, day procedures;
- Comprehensive range of diagnostics, including radiology and laboratory tests;
- Comprehensive range of outpatient services, including;
- Medicine
- Surgery
- Paediatrics
- Obstetrics and gynaecology
Media Enquiries to DHSSPSNI Press Office 028 9052 0570. Outside office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
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