Hospital will be best in Europe: McGimpsey

Published 28 May 2009 09:00 0 Comments

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The site of the Western Trust"s new acute hospital in Enniskillen will soon be transformed following confirmation by the Health Minister that work is about to begin and that the hospital will be open for business by summer 2012.

The Minister made the statement following a visit on Tuesday to the site of the new hospital at Wolf Lough outside Enniskillen, where he was given a tour and unveiled a new sign.

During his visit he said that when the hospital opens in three years" time, 'it will be the best hospital in Europe.'

Accompanying Mr McGimpsey to the site were the directors of the Northern Ireland Health Group Consortium, clinicians and members of the Western Trust including Chief Executive Elaine Way.

After unveiling the new site sign the Minister said, 'This is an exciting time for the people of the South West as the new state of the art hospital begins to take shape. When completed, the new hospital will provide a wide range of acute services including a 24/7 Accident and Emergency department, critical care services, inpatient medicine and consultant-led maternity services.'

He also stated that the £270million project will bring 'excellent' economic benefits to Enniskillen and the wider area as well as providing 850 jobs over the construction period, 180 of which will be new jobs.

Confirming this, Project Director for Northern Ireland Health Group Consortium Brian Furlong, who has worked on new hospital developments in Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham said management staff of Spanish contractors FCC have arrived in Enniskillen and a recruitment drive should be expected shortly.

After his tour, the Minister visited Erne Hospital"s Day Hospital where he heard about plans for a new Medical and Surgical Assessment Unit and new Renal Facilities.

Welcoming Mr McGimpsey to the hospital Elaine Way said: 'The Minister has been unrelenting in his campaign in bringing forward plans for the hospital which he has kept dear to his heart.'

She talked about the Trust"s commitment in continuing to provide modern acute services to the people of the South West during the hospital"s transition period.

'It has been well worth waiting for and we are absolutely delighted to announce that this project is going to happen, it is signed and it will be delivered,' she said. Continuing her address, Mrs Way took the opportunity to thank all the people who brought plans to fruition particularly to all those people she described as 'Friends of the West'. She made reference to the fact she was always aware of the apprehension among the Fermanagh people about the actions of 'those people in Derry' but said 'it was the forging of relationships of those Derry and Fermanagh colleagues that has made this project possible here today.'

Making apologies for the absence of colleagues in Omagh, she said plans are in place for the development of a local enhanced hospital in the town, which will have additional wards and it too will be an excellent hospital for the people of west Tyrone and Fermanagh.

She thanked the Western Trust"s clinical services team and its head Dr. Jim Kelly who 'provided the vision' in shaping services for the new hospital so that people in Omagh, Fermanagh and beyond will continue to be offered the best in modern day healthcare.

Mrs Way thanked the input of Fermanagh District Council and acknowledged Chief Executive Rodney Connor and outgoing Chairman Thomas O"Reilly and said: 'I will be really proud when this hospital opens in 2012.'

Speaking at the Hospital Minister McGimpsey said: 'Since I first made the announcement a number of years ago over the decision to develop a new hospital outside Enniskillen, there has been a lot of setbacks since then, but my staff and I kept focused and we were unrelenting in ensuring that we got to this point here today. This is for real, the money is there, it"s in place and two years from now you will have one of the best 21st century hospitals in Europe.'

UUP Councillor Bertie Kerr, who has campaigned for the development of a new hospital said: 'I"m delighted to be here today to witness this event and fully believe that we would have got nowhere without the expertise of Michael McGimpsey. Where others might have got fed up, he stayed the course and he promised us a hospital and we got it. I hope now that I will be around to see the opening of this new hospital and I think Peter Quinn Consultancy Services needs to get a mention as he provided the Council with excellent guidance in bringing these plans forward.'

Chairman of Fermanagh District Council Thomas O"Reilly said:'It is a good day for the people of Fermanagh and for the future of health care in the south west. I believe the people of Fermanagh deserve a top class health system, which is locally provided and no longer will be the days that patients will have to travel distances for healthcare and we look forward to the successful transfer of patients to the new hospital in the summer of 2012.'

Last week the contract between the consortium that will build the new £270 million acute facility and the local health trust.

The consortium, the Northern Ireland Health Group, is made up of FCC Construction SA, Allied Irish Bank Plc., Interserve Investments and P Elliott and Co.,

At least 180 new jobs will be created and a further 670 jobs will be sustained as part of this major construction project. In addition, there will be 32 trade apprenticeships and seven university placements. A social and economic regeneration plan has been put in place which will help maximise opportunities for the local workforce.

The funding has been put in place by the Northern Ireland Health Group. The European Investment Bank shall provide 50 per cent of the funding with the NordLB, Bank of Ireland and Barclays combining to provide the remaining 50 per cent.

A DHSSPS spokesperson explained: 'The Northern Ireland Health Group (NIHG) hasprovided 100 per cent of the funding required to build the new hospital. They aresubsequently reimbursed through a one-off cash injection of £100m from the Department, which is paid to NIHG upon practical completion of the hospital.

'The remainder of money for the hospital is covered by the annual unitary charge, which also includes the cost of operating the new hospital.'

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 28 May 09

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