The planning application for a new paediatric centre of excellence at Daisy Hill Hospital has been submitted. The application received by Planning NI on June 2 proposes ‘redevelopment of the existing 6th floor and an extension for a Paediatric Ward and Theatre’ and for ‘replacement windows to the sixth floor and an extension to the existing Plant Room,’ while roof lights and solar panels are proposed at roof level. The Southern Trust confirmed to the Reporter that design work is currently is currently well under way on a £14.5m plan approved by the Department of Health to modernize hospital services for children and young people across the Southern Health and Social Care Trust. “All planned paediatric surgery for the Trust will be centralized in a new £7.9m purpose built centre of excellence at Daisy Hill and a further £6.6m will be used to build a new paediatric centre on the Craigavon Area Hospital site,” a statement read. “This investment allows the Trust to continue to the next phase of implementation of its ‘Changing for Children strategy which was developed through public consultation in 2010.” The new centre to be located on level 6 at Daisy Hill will include a new child friendly theatre suite and recovery area, co-located beside a 19 bed children’s ward all custom designed to ‘support the delivery of the most up-to-date clinical standards for the treatment and care of young people.” Paula Clarke CEO (Interim) of the Southern Trust said that Daisy Hill remains as a vital part of the Trust’s Hospital network for the provision of acute services and ‘this investment is part of our continued programme of development and modernization of the hospital’. We have a very dedicated paediatric workforce in the Southern Trust and this next phase is a major towards achieving the highest standards of care for children and young people,” she said. “Any child or young person requiring emergency surgery will continue to receive this at their nearest acute hospital – Craigavon or Daisy Hill. The development of a dedicated a centre of excellence for planned paediatric surgery is another example of how Daisy Hill and Craigavon can work together to provide a network of high quality hospital care to the population of the Southern Trust and beyond.” The statement added that the outcome to the planning application is expected in the coming months and if passed ‘it would be expected that construction work on the Paediatric Centre of Excellence will be completed in 2017’.
Newry Reporter
1st July 2015
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