SDLP MLA Dominic Bradley has welcomed the proposed development of and £8.4m Paediatric Centre of Excellence at Daisy Hill. Following the announcement from the Chief Executive of The Southern Health Trust that the work would commence in the New Year Newry and Mourne MLA Mr Bradley said that those would go some way to allaying people’s fears surrounding the project. Speaking after the meeting with Mrs Clarke, Mr Bradley said: “I want to welcome the Southern Trust’s investment in Paediatric services and in particular to the new Paediatric Centre of Excellence at Daisy Hill Hospital. This facility is to be located on level 6 and will see an £8.4m capital investment. This is good news for Daisy Hill and for Paediatric care in the Southern Trust.” Mr Bradley added: “The development has been announced in November last year by the then Health Minister Jim Wells. However in recent weeks there had been concerns if the development would actually go ahead. I sought an urgent meeting with the CEO and have received assurances that everything is very much on track for the development of the new facility and they expect a contractor to be on site in the New Year and the facility to be operational in 2017.” Commending the quality the quality of service the hospital provides Mr Bradley said: “Daisy Hill is an excellent hospital and offers key acute services for the Southern Trust area. This development will see all planned/ elective paediatric surgery carried out at Daisy and will include the provision of and new dedicated Paediatric Theatre and associated suites in Newry. The Trust are also investing in a smaller emergency type Paediatric facility in Craigavon which would onlyt deal with emergency/ non elective procedures at the same time as the Daisy Hill Development and I believe this has caused some concern about the proposals for Daisy Hill. He said: “However I am assured having met with the acting Chief Executive that the Trust are very much committed to the development of a Centre of Excellence and look forward to work commencing on site in 2016.
Newry Democrat
1st September 2016
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