Private Hospital Development 'Boosts Tourism'

Tourism is firmly on the NI agenda this week with a Stormont Assembly briefing yesterday on the establishment of a new group that aims to generate two-way dialogue between MLAs and the tourism sector - and the launch today of an international healthcare tourism project in south Belfast.

Tourism Minister Arlene Foster told fellow MLAs about the ni2012 events programme: "This All Party Group will provide an opportunity for MLAs to broaden their understanding of tourism, both in terms of the many positive things that are happening but also in relation to the issues and challenges the sector is facing," she said on Wednesday.

Then today, the DUP Minister separately announced 60 new jobs and more than 1,500 annual hotel bed nights in what is being billed as an international healthcare tourism project.

It has resulted from a new prostate cancer treatment being made available with the Minister officially opening Kingsbridge Private Hospital on the Lisburn Road in south Belfast today.

Arlene Foster said: "3fivetwo Private Healthcare Group already employs 180 people and this latest expansion is creating 60 new jobs.

"Representatives from the company have recently returned from an Invest Northern Ireland Trade Mission to Boston, where they were able to showcase their expertise to a multibillion dollar market.

"The healthcare manufacturing and services sector continues to be an area of growth. Northern Ireland has a highly skilled and motivated workforce and the establishment of this new facility proves that we can compete with other international destinations when it comes to excellence in this field," she said.

Welcoming the Minister, Chief Executive of the new hospital, Mark Regan predicted that the private healthcare sector is set to be one of the major new industries in Northern Ireland.

He also revealed plans to treat prostate cancer patients from the United States, Asia and the Middle East starting in December 2011 with a revolutionary new HIFU procedure to be undertaken by local urology consultants.

"Patients will be travelling with friends and family who will be staying in hotels locally for up to five nights resulting in a minimum of 1,500 bed nights in the first year, eating at local restaurants and visiting tourism attractions particularly in time for the Titanic celebrations," he claimed.

"As the largest direct private healthcare provider in Northern Ireland we believe we are in a unique position to demonstrate the enormous local, national and international opportunities we see for the healthcare sector here.

"Our business has grown significantly in the last eight years, with three facilities in south Belfast, a Training Academy in Titanic Quarter, cosmetic surgery, dental and fertility businesses employing a total of 180 people throughout Northern Ireland.

"This new Private Hospital facility will significantly improve the choice available to the 10% of people who invest in private health insurance or those who simply make the choice to pay for the healthcare they want.

"We have two state of the art operating theatres and one of the most highly specified Endoscopy suites in Ireland.

"Our minor injuries unit is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland and is led by an expert Emergency Consultant," he said.

(BMcC)