Northern Ireland Health Minister, Lord Arran, called at the Erne Hospital and the Industrial Therapy Organisation in Enniskillen on Monday afternoon during a one-day visit to facilities in the Western Health and Social Services Board area.
His Western Health Board area trip followed visits earlier this year to the Eastern, Northern and Southern Board areas and is a continuation of the Minister's informal visits to meet those at the heart of providing services to patients in Northern Ireland.
After earlier engagements on Monday in Omagh and Londonderry, the Minister travelled to the Industrial Therapy Organisation (ITO) in Enniskillen.
The ITO is a private company limited by guarantee which aims to encourage the integration into open employment of people affected by mental illness, and has units in other parts of the province.
It is a non-profit organisation and is financed largely by the European Social Fund, Health and Social Services Boards, Department of Health and Social Services, and income derived from the sale of its products.
The Minister was told that the therapy at Enniskillen was part of a comprehensive package of community mental health services developed jointly by the ITO and the Western Board's Mental Health Unit.
He enjoyed a tour of the facilities and was delighted to meet and chat with staff and clients. Later in the day, Lord Arran visited the medical/surgical ward and the geriatric unit at the Erne Hospital.
Before leaving, the Minister congratulated the hospital which has just finished in the top six of the prestigious UK-wide Hewlett Packard Health Care Quality Awards for 1993, and as runner-up in the Health Services Journal Health Care Management Award.
Following his visit to the Board area, Lord Arran paid tribute to the professionalism and commitment of staff.
Lord Arran is pictured meeting senior figures at the Erne Hospital: Mr. Paddy Gilgunn, senior nurse and patient services manager; Dr. Mahendra Varma, consultant physician and cardiologist; and Dr. Jim Kelly, consultant geriatrician. June, 1993.
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