22/11/2001

Consultation launched on Belfast maternity unit

The Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Bairbre de Brún has published a specification for a proposed new maternity facility in Belfast.

The proposed facility will house the Royal Jubilee Maternity Service, currently based at the Royal Maternity Hospital.

Launching the consultation document, Ms de Brún, said: “This issue of the siting of a centralised maternity service in Belfast has been running unresolved for a number of years. I am taking the steps necessary to end the uncertainty over this important service. A new maternity hospital is crucial for the future of local maternity services in Belfast and specialist services for the whole of the North.”

Outlining details of the consultation process on the specification to cover a new development, the Minister stressed her commitment to the health and welfare of women, mothers and babies.

Emphasising that public consultation is an essential element in ensuring that services meet the needs of patients and their families, Ms de Brún said: “People who use health and social services have the right to influence directly how services are developed. The specification is a central component of the process which I have established to identify the best site for this service. It is important that the public have an opportunity to comment on this document before any more detailed work proceeds.”

The consultation period will run until 18 January 2002, after which detailed proposals will be drawn up.

The Minister indicated that she expected to make her final decision in the spring of 2002, following the completion of the process. (CD)

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