Health Minister Seeks Support For Spending Increase

Construction work on a new women's and children's hospitals cannot get underway until more funds are released by the Executive, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has warned.

The Minister called for more than double his allocated capital spending budget to complete health 'priorities'.

Speaking at the Stormont Assembly, (pictured) Mr McGimpsey told fellow MLAs he fully recognised the need to improve and modernise maternity services across Northern Ireland.

He said: "There is an urgent requirement for modern facilities and additional capacity in the Belfast area.

"However, under the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland (ISNI) I have been allocated some £3.3 billion capital to invest in the infrastructure of our health and social care services over the next 10 years.

"While £3.3 billion is a large sum of money, it is simply not enough as I actually need £7.8 billion to address current capital priorities."

McGimpsey said there was no financial provisions to start any major capital investment projects between 2013 and 2016 due to ISNI constraints.

"This has a significant impact on the timing of the new Women's and Children's hospitals. We can only plan for a phased implementation starting site enabling works in 2011; construction of the Women's Hospital in 2015/16 and construction of the Childrens' to start in 2017/18," said the Minister.

He stressed this was "completely unsatisfactory" and said he wanted much quicker progress.

"However, I am faced with many competing demands to replace and refurbish buildings which are no longer fit for purpose across Northern Ireland," said Mr McGimpsey.

The Minister has sought support from his Executive colleagues to improve the ISNI profile, allowing the development to be brought forward much sooner.

"To do this we would need an additional £250 million to allow us to complete both hospitals within the 10 year ISNI period. I hope that members of the Assembly will support me in taking this forward," added the Minister.

(PR/JM)