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The Department of Health have announced that they have approved £9m to carry out a major upgrade of Daisy Hill Hospital's low voltage electrical infrastructure.
Welcoming the move the Chief Executive of the Southern Trust, Dr Maria O’Kane said “Daisy Hill is an essential part of the Southern Trust acute hospital network serving our entire population from South Down to Mid Ulster.
“We are very proud of the high quality services provided by our very dedicated staff at Daisy Hill. It has a wide range of thriving medical specialties, a very busy emergency department and is a vibrant teaching hospital.
“We are delighted that Daisy Hill has been selected to be a regional Elective Overnight Stay Centre for planned surgery and are currently engaging with health and social care colleagues to develop these plans.
“The approval of the project to improve low voltage electrical capability is a much welcome boost for the ageing hospital infrastructure and another commitment to the future of our hospital. This will provide a foundation to allow us to further expand services with the development of a twin diagnostic scanning suite in the long term.
“I would like to thank our Community Forum, who have worked with Trust colleagues as part of the Daisy Hill Pathfinder Group and the Daisy Hill Future Group for their continued support in improving services and securing this latest investment in the interests of local people.
“Our estates team will be taking a phased approach to installing the low voltage electricity over the next few years and will as always do their very best to minimise disruption while we make these improvements throughout the hospital.”
Health Minister Robin Swann announced in October last year that the hospital was to become an Elective Overnight Stay Centre for patients who require at least one night in hospital after surgery.
The Department of Health Permanent Secretary Peter May added “I am very pleased that the Department has been able to approve this expenditure, which will enable the Trust to provide a safe resilient supply of electricity at Daisy Hill Hospital.”
MLA Liz Kimmins also welcomed the announcement. Ms Kimmins said “This will transform facilities at the hospital and enhance treatment for patients across Newry, Armagh and further afield.
“This investment, coupled with Daisy Hill recently being made into an elective surgery centre, demonstrates the important role of our hospitals in delivering local healthcare.
“We need an Executive up and running now to invest an extra £1 billion to continue transforming health and social care and to hire more doctors and nurses.”
Justin McNulty MLA spoke of his delight "I am delighted that the Department of Health have today announced a £9million investment in Daisy Hill. This long overdue investment will provide a significant boost to our hospital and will enable the installation of an MRI Suite at Daisy Hill, something that is critical to the provision of leading-edge diagnostics and treatment at our hospital.
"People across Newry and South Armagh have been quite rightly frustrated at the gradual erosion of services at Daisy Hill in recent years. This investment will provide a major boost to services and resources at Daisy Hill, which will not only serve to improve patient care, but it will also make Daisy Hill a more attractive place for clinicians to work.
"Through public pressure and political advocacy, we have achieved a major win for Daisy Hill. It is critical that these upgrades, including the delivery of an MRI suite, are progressed at pace and it is important that all local representatives ensure that this is kept on track.
"Today’s announcement is a clear example of what we can achieve as a community when we stand together with a singular focus. There is much more work to do, but if we continue to stand united, we can safeguard Daisy Hill for the future."
