SCANNER TO REDUCE WAITING TIMES AT NEWRY HOSPITAL

The Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Ms Bairbre de Brún has officially presided at the installation of a new CT Scanner at Daisy Hill Hospital. It is expected that the provision of this new facility will cut waiting times for patients from the Newry and Mourne areas..

Prior to the installation of the scanner, patients would often be referred to Craigavon Area Hospital, but with the arrival of the vital technology, the Co Down hospital is now able to provide a 24-hour CT scan service, which will enable emergency scans to be carried out on the day of request.

Speaking at the launch, Ms de Brun said: "This scanner will add greatly to the speed and accuracy of the diagnosis and treatment of many serious diseases here at Daisy Hill. It will improve the quality of general services available to service users at the hospital. The provision of a 24-hour service for CT scans provides reassurance to patients that their needs will be met quickly, efficiently and accurately."

During her visit to Daisy Hill, Ms de Brún also opened the hospital’s Centre for Practice Development in Nursing. The Centre was founded to provide a focal point of interest for staff at the hospital undertaking education and training, providing staff with online access to university modules of study. The Newry and Mourne Health and Social Services Trust also plan to offer nurses a full range of under-graduate and post-graduate study opportunities.

The Minister said: "This is an innovative and highly successful project, which enables staff to study at a time and place suited to their individual professional and personal needs.

"The excellent facilities at the Centre have provided additional opportunities for nurses to study and share practice development experiences together through this exciting online and interactive learning environment." (CL)