The new Paediatric Centre of Excellence at Daisy Hill with commence on site in the new year.
Earlier this week Armagh I reported that planning approval has been granted for a new £8.4 million paediatrics ward at the Newry hospital.
The application – part of an overall £15 million paediatrics development across the Newry and Craigavon Area Hospitals – is being given the go-ahead by Newry Mourne and Down District Council.
Dominic Bradley MLA has welcomed the good news.
confirmation from the Acting Chief Executive of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust that the new Paediatric Centre of Excellence at Daisy Hill with commence on site in the New Year.
‘The development had been announced in November last year by the then Health Minister Jim Wells however in recent weeks there had been concerns raised if the development would actually go ahead,” said Mr Bradley.
“I sought an urgent meeting with the Chief Executive and have received assurances that everything is very much on track for the development of the new facility and they expect a contractor to be on site in the New Year and the facility to be operational in 2017.
“Daisy Hill is an excellent hospital and offers key acute services for the Southern Trust area.
“This development will see all planned/elective paediatric surgery carried out at Daisy Hill and will include the provision of a new dedicated Paediatric Theatre and associated suites in Newry.
He added: “The Trust are also investing in a smaller emergency type Paediatric facility in Craigavon which would only deal with emergency/non-elective procedures at the same time as the Daisy Hill development and I believe this has caused some concern about the proposals for Daisy Hill.
“However I am reassured having met with the Acting Chief Executive that the Trust are very much committed to the development of Centre of Excellence at Daisy Hill and look forward to work commencing on site in 2016.”
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