ACUTE mental health care will continue to be provided within the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital until a new acute mental health unit is built in either Enniskillen or Omagh.

That’s according to outgoing Health Minister Jim Wells who said the exact location of an acute mental health inpatient service in the southern area of the Western Trust is subject to a business case which is currently being developed by the Trust.

“The business case will include a full options appraisal taking into account the essential requirements for high quality, safe, effective, and robust adult mental health services for the people of Fermanagh and West Tyrone. This will include an evaluation of suitable space, accommodation and environment in reaching a determination on the preferred site of either Omagh or Enniskillen.

“A final decision on location can only be made once the business case has been finalised and submitted to my Department for consideration. After that, timing of the project will be subject to budgetary availability and this project will need to be considered alongside all other demands on the capital budget in 2015/16,” said Minister Wells, who resigned from his post on Monday.