Health minister's statement on hospital artwork spending

Responding to claims that £4m was being spent on artwork in the Ulster Hospital, Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey said:

“There is not, nor has there ever been any intention to spend £4million on artwork in the Ulster Hospital.

“It is also wrong for anyone to suggest that £30m will be spent across the health service on artwork over the next 10 years.

“This figure has been based on the crude assumption that Trusts will be spending the maximum 1% of the total capital budget of £3billion on artwork. The reality is that the amount spent on enhancing the patient environment will be nothing like this.

“The suggestion that any money spent in this way is leading to loss of jobs or any reduction in patient care is totally misleading. This money comes from a separate capital budget which cannot be used for employment or patient treatment.

“There is no budget for art – the budget is for improving the patient environment. This includes improvements to landscaping, street-scapes, lighting, signage, as well as some artwork.

“A high-quality patient environment can have significant benefits on the healing process and patient outcomes. Studies have shown that patients in this type of environment spend 20% less time recovering after an operation and can require up to 15% less pain killing drugs during this period. Healthcare facilities are also a workplace and the research revealed that aggression towards staff working in these environments has reduced by 40%.

“A further research exercise in 1999 revealed that 89% of frontline clinical staff considered that the quality of the environment does have noticeable effects on patients and that art makes a significant contribution to the healing environment.

“I will be ensuring that any future expenditure on improving the patient environment will be appropriate and represent real value for money.”

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