NI's newest hospital due to open

Published Friday, 15 June 2012

Northern Ireland's new state-of-the-art hospital is due to open outside Enniskillen next week.

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The South West Acute Hospital will replace the Erne Hospital. The opening of the ultra modern facility marks six years in planning and construction.

It cost £276m to build the hospital which has more than 300 beds for in-patients and day case surgery. Single ensuite single rooms are available for every patient.

"In terms of the privacy and dignity of the patient and our quest for infection control, it just makes our job that much easier," Joe Lusby from the Western Health Trust explained.

South West is the most modern acute hospital in Europe and the most energy efficient hospital in Europe.

The acute hospital will offer paediatric services, maternity services, emergency services, theatre services, surgical services, all of the broad range of medical services, and then on top of that a full range of out-patient services.

Overseeing the project was Keith Abel from the NI Health Care Group.

"My job is now to work with the Trust in delivering the services, so although it's my baby in a construction sense it continues to be my baby and we need to make sure we deliver the services with the Trust that the people here deserve," he said.

The Erne closes its doors next Thursday when the South West Acute Hospital becomes fully operational.

Comments

5 Comments

trevor in omagh wrote (335 days ago):

I FEAR FOR THE LONG TERM FUTURE OF THIS HOSPITIAL, ITS ONLY 10 YEARS SINCE THE NEW CAUSEWAY HOSPITIAL OPENED IN COLERAINE. A TOWN WITH TWICE THE POPULATION OF ENNISKILLEN AND NOW ITS A+E IS UNDER THREAT.AGAIN OMAGH IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE. A TOWN TWICE THE SIZE OF ENNISKILLEN AND LOSES ITS A+E. IT WILL NEVER LAST BECAUSE FERMANAGH DOES NOT HAVE THE POPULATION TO SUPPORT THIS HOSPITIAL ESPECIALLY WHEN THE A5 IS UPGRADED TO DUAL CARRAGEWAY. THE PEOPLE OF TYRONE WILL GO TO DERRY/LONDONDERRY.

Linda in Fermanagh wrote (336 days ago):

It should not have been a choice between Omagh or Enniskillen - both towns deserve a new hospital. Mayb if our government stops wasting money on the past they will then have money available for hospitals, schools and roads.

Ciaran in Here wrote (336 days ago):

Absolutely agree with W

W in Northern Ireland wrote (338 days ago):

Why are they building a new hospital in Omagh which is only a few hundred yards down the road from the current County Hospital, yet the new one will basically be the same and have no A&E? While it is good that Enniskillen got a new modern hospital, surely the priority should have been for Omagh? Tyrone has long been in need of a proper hospital with A&E.

davey in lisburn wrote (339 days ago):

Single rooms are fine but will make bed ridden patients very lonely. A lot has to be said about the wards of about 6 beds where you can talk to someone. Makes a big difference to someone who is ill. Talking from past experience