Health Minister underlines commitment to safe services for the people of Omagh

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey today met with West Tyrone MLAs and representatives from Omagh District Council to discuss last week’s announcement on acute services at Tyrone County Hospital.

During the meeting the Minister underlined the importance of ensuring safe services for people in Omagh.  He also said that the changes to be made at the Tyrone County were essential if patient safety was to be assured.

The Minister said: “A number of issues were discussed today in relation to last week’s announcement on changes to acute services.  I accepted the concerns of local representatives regarding the Trust’s handling of the announcement last week.  However, I recognise that staff at the Tyrone County Hospital are at the heart of this issue and it was appropriate to ensure that they heard the news first.

“This meeting has been helpful in clarifying for local representatives the difficulties the Trust has experienced in sustaining acute services at the hospital over the last 18 months. In particular, the difficulties in recruiting appropriate medical staff which has led to the decision to remove acute services from the beginning of March.”

A number of clinicians from the Western Trust provided detailed information on the model of service that will be in place for the south west from March.  They also outlined additional services which will be introduced at the Tyrone County.

The Minister continued: “The clinicians made it clear that they are confident that these changes are in the best interests of patients.  The Trust will ensure that, over the next few weeks, services are enhanced at Altnagelvin and the Erne hospitals in preparation for the change in acute services.

“It was also made clear that there will be no redundancies at Tyrone County Hospital as a result of this decision.  This will be very reassuring to the 550 staff who continue to provide an excellent service to the local population.”

He also welcomed the Council’s commitment to participate with the Western Trust in a liaison group.

“I welcome the Council chair’s commitment to ensuring that party leaders will engage with the Western Trust’s liaison group.  This group will have a key role in helping to shape services in the new £190 million enhanced local hospital which will be the biggest investment that Omagh has ever seen.

“It is time to move forward now.  It is important that the council plays its role in ensuring the people of Omagh have a clear understanding of the future plans for their local hospital and the improvements which they will gain from new and additional services to be provided on the Tyrone County site.”

Notes to Editors:

• New and additional services which will be rolled out at the Tyrone County Hospital include:
• Day case cardiology services, including chest pain clinic and heart failure clinics
• Additional outpatient clinics
• Increased diagnostics and imaging
• Additional investment in rapid response nursing teams to support patients in the community
• Appointment of specialist children’s nurses to provide hospital and community support in relation to asthma, epilepsy and continence care
• New in-reach consultant-led diabetes services
• Additional clinics for urodynamics (urinary services)
• Development of palliative care services

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