This funding is part of a total planned investment of £580million over the next ten years for health and social care in the Belfast Trust area.
New developments and an upgrade of existing services will take place across a range of primary, secondary and community care areas to bring about major improvements in services to the public.
Speaking as he cut the first sod on the site of the new regional Mental Health Facility for Adolescents and Children and Families at Forster Green Hospital in Belfast Michael McGimpsey said: “A world-class health service needs modern and state of the art facilities. This new regional mental health facility will provide 18 places for adolescents and 15 places for children along with overnight accommodation for parents.
“The adolescent unit will provide more beds than are currently available while the children’s unit is a much needed replacement of services which were no longer fit for purpose. This is only part of a major investment in mental health facilities planned over the next ten years. These services will make a real and lasting difference to patients and their families in an area of care which has for too long been neglected and under-funded.”
Commenting on the planned investment of £580million for capital projects in the Belfast Trust over the next ten years the Minister said: “I will continue to invest funds where improved health and social care services are most needed both regionally and for the people in the Belfast Trust area.
“Key projects include the new Health and Care Centre for the Castlereagh area which will be opening shortly; a new Mental Health Inpatient Unit for the Belfast area; a new Mental Health Community facility in North Belfast and the replacement of other mental health facilities and learning disability facilities at the Muckamore Abbey Hospital site.”
Referring to the proposed new Women’s and Children’s Hospitals Michael McGimpsey said: “I strongly support this development and want to progress this work much more quickly than I am able to. At this moment in time site enabling works will begin in 2011, with construction of the Women’s Hospital beginning in 2015/16 with an expected completion date of 2017/18. Construction of the Children’s Hospital is not due to start until 2017/18 with completion expected in 2021/22.”
The Minister concluded: “Today’s announcement is yet another example of how we are investing in our services. I have worked with all the Health Boards and Trusts to identify their key priorities for the next ten years. By continuing to invest in our services we are ensuring that we have a first class health and social care service which continues to put patients first.”
Notes to editors:
1. Over the ten year period 2008/09-2017/18 the Department has been allocated a total capital envelope of almost £3.3billion, against an identified need of £7.8billion. Just over £700million of this is earmarked for the Comprehensive Spending Review period with the balance of just over £2.5billion allocated in the remaining period of the Investment Strategy
2. All capital expenditure is subject to the normal business case approval process.
3. Media enquiries to DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 0579. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.
