Health committee hears of concerns about new hospital's foundations

Catriona Loughran • Published 29 Oct 2009 09:00 0 Comments

See also:

Concerns about an "emerging overspend" at the New Acute South West Hospital in Enniskillen were raised during an evidence session last week between Stormont's Health Committee and The Western Trust over its 2008-11 comprehensive spending review (CSR) proposals.

Independent MLA Kieran Deeny asked about an "emerging overspend" at the New South West Hospital claiming there had been difficulties in the structural development at the site of the new hospital based at Wolf Lough on the Irvinestown Road.

He asked, "There's a lot of concern surrounding the foundations of the South West Hospital and it looks like there could be an emerging overspend here?"

Mrs Way replied and said the PFI contract was signed and confirmed there would be "no additional cost" to the project.

To date, there have been two landslides at the site of the new acute hospital- with the latest one occurring in July which caused damage to four high voltage underground electricity cables resulting in over 1000 NIE customers left without power.

A laneway of a house close to the site also subsided leaving the occupants unable to leave their home.

The Northern Ireland Health Group, the consortium behind the £267m project, refused to comment at the time whether the landslide would delay the construction or affect the future structural stability of the hospital.

A Western Trust construction update report confirmed that 3500 piles have since been constructed into the ground with work nearing completion and work to the main building frame along with external ground services work is expected to commence in early November.

Speaking after the meeting Dr Deeny said, "We need more clarity from the Trust that if there is going to be extra work needed on this site we need to know where this money will come from and will it be an extra cost to the Trust or taxpayer? Mrs Way may have told the Committee that it's a PFI based project and that there will be no additional cost but we need details to be made more clear if reports from the community are accurate about the conditions of this site."

Present on behalf of the Western Trust were Chief Executive Mrs Elaine Way accompanied by senior directors Mr Joe Lusby, Mr Alan Finn, Mr Trevor Millar and Mr John Doherty.

Mrs Way delivered a presentation on the Trust's CSR Proposals 2008-11 to date and confirmed that no changes had been made to the 48 proposals which were approved by the Health Minister in July.

During her presentation she made a commitment that there would be no changes regarding the cardio assessment unit at Tyrone County Hospital but she made no indication, nor was she asked as to how the Trust plan to make £9m of additional savings to balance its books.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 29 Oct 09

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.