West Tyrone Sinn Fein Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

McElduff urges McGimpsey to announce start date for new Omagh Hospital

Published: 5 July, 2010

Sinn Fein MLA Barry McElduff is seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister for Health Michael McGimpsey to establish the timeframe for the new Omagh Hospital start date. The Sinn Fein MLA has also written to the other five Assembly members for West Tyrone inviting them to join him in 'a Team West Tyrone combined effort' aimed at achieving certainty and clarity about the proposed £190 million project which, Mr McElduff says "will be key to the delivery of essential health services in this area for years to come."

Mr McElduff said that his initiative follows on from a meeting of Omagh District Councillors, senior health officials and Minister Michael McGimpsey which took place at Stormont Castle Buildings at the end of May.

"From feedback I have received from the delegation which included Council Vice Chairperson, Ann-Marie Fitzgerald and the then Chairman, Cllr Paddy McGowan, this meeting was far from satisfactory. "

"The message from the Minister in late May was that he does not have the funding and never had the funding in his budget, that he cannot commit to a start date for the project and that there was no decision on a procurement route."

"Despite all this, the Minister restated his commitment to building the new hospital in Omagh. I want to ask the Minister what is his commitment worth if he is unable or unwilling to get this onto a Capital Programme without further delay?"

"This 'commitment' simply needs to be matched with certainty over funding and the procurement route for the delivery of the new hospital. The local community does feel 'led up the garden path' on this project and I am calling on Minister McGimpsey to announce a start date for the project and to make a public statement on the procurement route which will deliver this crucial project."

"I would remind the Minister that he initially confirmed to the Assembly in early October 2007 that the £190 million funding required was in place. Minister McGimpsey needs to come clean on whether or not he is able or willing to deliver on the undertakings given to the Assembly and to Omagh District Council on this matter."

"This community has campaigned tirelessly for proper health services in this area, including an Acute Hospital. This was unsuccessful but we were promised that a new local enhanced hospital in Omagh was very much part of the health care solution West of the Bann, networking with Altnagelvin Hospital and the new Acute Hospital planned for Enniskillen."

Meanwhile, the Mr McElduff has welcomed a decision by DOE Planning Service to approve a new link road and bridge over the Camowen River to link the Donaghanie and Crevenagh Roads to serve the future new hospital. This scheme will also include a footway/cycleway, associated landscaping and the provision of a new access for the new Omagh hospital and for existing health care villas off the link road. This Planning Application was presented to Omagh District Council's Planning and Public Services Liaison Committee on Monday evening of this week with the recommendation to approve.