Acute hospital decision due by end of January

The decision on where to site the new hospital for the south west will be taken by the end of January, according to the NIO Health Minister Des Browne.

Mr Browne made his comments following a meeting today with a delegation from the Hospital Campaign for the Rural West, which advocates Omagh as the site of the new acute services hospital.

The Minister said that there had been too much confusion on the issue of where to site the service but stressed that the decision on the location of the hospital was a "difficult" one.

He added: “One point that everyone agrees on is that there has been too much uncertainty around this issue and that a decision is urgently needed.

"I fully agree with this and I hope to reach a decision on the new acute hospital around the end of January. In doing so, I will take a reasoned and balanced approach after having considered carefully all the evidence available to me.”

Mr Browne visited the south-west on January 6 to hear presentations on the responses to 'Developing Better Services' from a number of local groups in respect of the possible locations for the new acute hospital.

The consultation period on the 'Developing Better Services' document ended on October 31 and all the responses to the consultation are now being analysed.

(MB)