Following a meeting with the Health Committee today to discuss the draft budget, the Minister said that it was suggested at the meeting that both hospitals had been earmarked for closure some years ago. There was also a query as to whether acute services should be sited in Enniskillen.
He said: "It is absolutely not on my agenda to shut the Mater or Downe hospitals. The new £60 million hospital in Downe is almost complete and will play an important role in providing high quality services to the local population and as a key element in the network of local hospitals.
"In his Developing Better Services speech in 2003, former Minister Des Browne highlighted the need to ensure the Mater delivered a full range of acute services for a considerable period ahead. I fully agree and understand not only the high regard with which the Mater is held by the local community in north Belfast, but also realise the pivotal role it plays in providing vital acute services to the Greater Belfast population.
"One of my first decisions on taking up office was to confirm Enniskillen as the location for the acute hospital and a £190 million enhanced local hospital for Omagh. The suggestion that acute services should not be provided in Enniskillen is particularly unhelpful given the very advanced stage of procurement on the new £279 million acute hospital. In addition such a suggestion would leave a large proportion of the population west of the Bann some considerable distance from acute services.
"I am not prepared to take decisions which will have a significantly detrimental impact on local communities and cause them unnecessary stress."
Notes to Editors:
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