Planning approval important step for acute hospital

Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey has welcomed the news that planning permission has been approved for the new £267million acute hospital for the south west.

He said: "This announcement is an important milestone in the development of world-class health and social care services for the population of the south west. I visited Enniskillen recently to launch an exhibition of the new hospital which will allow people 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 in Northern Ireland to provide 100% single rooms with en-suite facilities. This will mean greater privacy for patient, as well as reducing the risk of healthcare associated 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."

Enabling works are currently underway and construction of the new acute hospital is planned to start in Spring 2009.

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