Menu
25/06/2001
BELFAST MATERNITY UNIT CONSULTATION ANNOUNCED
THE Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Bairbre de Brún, announced on Monday details of a new process she has set up to help her decide on the future site of a new maternity facility in Belfast.
The consultation process has been designed to help the minister to decide whether to keep and expand services currently located in the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital or to relocate to the Belfast City Hospital or to the Royal Group of Hospitals.
Last January Ms de Brún decided that the new Belfast Maternity Hospital should be located on the Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust site. However following a judicial review this decision was overturned in November 2000. The Minister then announced to the Assembly that she intended to initiate a new consultation process to assist her in determining the siting of the new maternity hospital.
Speaking on Monday Ms de Brún said: "I well understand the importance of getting this decision right. This issue has been running unresolved for a number of years and it is important that I take the necessary steps to end the uncertainty that is hanging over these important services. A new maternity hospital is vital to the future of both local maternity services in Belfast and specialist services for the whole region.”
At the heart of the new process will be the development of a specification for the centralised maternity unit. Following a period of public consultation the specification will be formally issued to the Belfast City Hospital and Royal Group of Hospitals Trusts, and each will be invited to submit proposals for developing the maternity unit on their respective sites. The Trusts’ proposals will then be issued for a further period of public consultation.
Announcing details of the new process, the Minister said: "My aim is to arrive at a decision that will provide the best possible maternity service for women, mothers and babies in the years to come."
The Minister stated that she hoped to take her decision early next year following the completion of the process. (AMcE)
The consultation process has been designed to help the minister to decide whether to keep and expand services currently located in the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital or to relocate to the Belfast City Hospital or to the Royal Group of Hospitals.
Last January Ms de Brún decided that the new Belfast Maternity Hospital should be located on the Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust site. However following a judicial review this decision was overturned in November 2000. The Minister then announced to the Assembly that she intended to initiate a new consultation process to assist her in determining the siting of the new maternity hospital.
Speaking on Monday Ms de Brún said: "I well understand the importance of getting this decision right. This issue has been running unresolved for a number of years and it is important that I take the necessary steps to end the uncertainty that is hanging over these important services. A new maternity hospital is vital to the future of both local maternity services in Belfast and specialist services for the whole region.”
At the heart of the new process will be the development of a specification for the centralised maternity unit. Following a period of public consultation the specification will be formally issued to the Belfast City Hospital and Royal Group of Hospitals Trusts, and each will be invited to submit proposals for developing the maternity unit on their respective sites. The Trusts’ proposals will then be issued for a further period of public consultation.
Announcing details of the new process, the Minister said: "My aim is to arrive at a decision that will provide the best possible maternity service for women, mothers and babies in the years to come."
The Minister stated that she hoped to take her decision early next year following the completion of the process. (AMcE)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
20 November 2024
Other News In Brief
Alliance Calls For 'Immediate And Decisive' Action On Child Hunger The Alliance Party has called for "immediate and decisive" action to address the growing crisis of child hunger in Northern Ireland.
Other News In Brief
Alliance Calls For 'Immediate And Decisive' Action On Child Hunger The Alliance Party has called for "immediate and decisive" action to address the growing crisis of child hunger in Northern Ireland.
21 July 2003
New regional maternity hospital to be complete by 2010
The new regional maternity hospital is not expected to be up and running until the end of the decade, DUP Health Spokesperson, Iris Robinson has said. Mrs Robinson said news of the new unit was confirmed to her after questioning local Health Minister Angela Smith in the House of Commons.
New regional maternity hospital to be complete by 2010
The new regional maternity hospital is not expected to be up and running until the end of the decade, DUP Health Spokesperson, Iris Robinson has said. Mrs Robinson said news of the new unit was confirmed to her after questioning local Health Minister Angela Smith in the House of Commons.
11 July 2022
Health Minister Welcomes Progress Of New Maternity Hospital
Health Minister Robin Swann has visited the new Maternity hospital at the Royal Victoria Hospital ahead of the planned handover of the building later this year.
Health Minister Welcomes Progress Of New Maternity Hospital
Health Minister Robin Swann has visited the new Maternity hospital at the Royal Victoria Hospital ahead of the planned handover of the building later this year.
16 August 2022
SDLP Calls For Overhaul Of Maternity Benefits
The SDLP has called for an overhaul of the provision of maternity benefits available in Northern Ireland. Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan has raised specific concerns around the different policies applied to Maternity Allowance and Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) for Universal Credit (UC) claimants.
SDLP Calls For Overhaul Of Maternity Benefits
The SDLP has called for an overhaul of the provision of maternity benefits available in Northern Ireland. Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan has raised specific concerns around the different policies applied to Maternity Allowance and Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) for Universal Credit (UC) claimants.
20 June 2001
ACUTE HOSPITALS REVIEW GROUP SUBMITS REPORT
THE long awaited report from the Acute Hospitals Review Group, published this week, has proposed a radical shake up to Northern Ireland’s existing emergency hospital structures. The report, compiled by Dr Maurice Hayes, recommends a number of radical changes and sets out a vision of where the health service might be in 15 or 20 years time.
ACUTE HOSPITALS REVIEW GROUP SUBMITS REPORT
THE long awaited report from the Acute Hospitals Review Group, published this week, has proposed a radical shake up to Northern Ireland’s existing emergency hospital structures. The report, compiled by Dr Maurice Hayes, recommends a number of radical changes and sets out a vision of where the health service might be in 15 or 20 years time.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Scattered showers of rain, sleet and, over hills, snow in the morning with sunny spells, the best of these in the south. The showers dying out this afternoon with increasing amounts of sunshine. Occasionally fresh westerly or northwesterly winds easing. Maximum temperature 6 °C.Tonight:Clear start with a fairly widespread frost developing. Increasing cloud brings occasionally heavy rain overnight, preceded, especially over western hills, briefly by snow. Occasional southeasterly gales, severe near coasts, developing. Minimum temperature -2 °C.
