UUP 'concerns' over health provision in south west

The Ulster Unionist Party has voiced its concerns over the status of health provision in Mid-Ulster, with party leader David Trimble pledging to raise the issue when the assembly gets back on track.

Mr Trimble voiced his "serious concerns" over the growing gap in provision of hospital services in Tyrone.

Speaking after a second meeting with West Tyrone MLA Derek Hussey and Mid-Ulster assembly member Billy Armstrong, Mr Trimble said that the issue would be on the agenda following restoration of the assembly.

“I think some legitimate questions need to be asked," he said. "There is an issue of whether the proposed acute hospital provision for the entire population of the county creates a gap in health services.

“What we mustn’t have is a deficient or inadequate services for well over 160,000 citizens within our largest county. They have a right to the same level of health service provision as the rest of us and shouldn’t be disadvantaged because of geographic location."

Mid-Ulster MLA Billy Armstrong said that the proposed spread of acute services is "totally imbalanced".

“The population of Tyrone, and particularly the people of Mid-Ulster must not be expected to make do with a lower quality of health care than those living east of the Bann," he said.

The future structure of the health service – published in the 'Developing Better Services' consultation document last year – and the fate of acute services at Tyrone County Hospital was eventually confirmed in February. Announcing the decision, NIO Health Minister Des Browne said it had been a "most difficult decision" but the acute services for the south west would be centred in a new hospital to the north of Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh.

The Minister also unveiled a £500 million capital investment programme in acute hospitals amounting which will amount to £1.2 billion over the next 10 years.

(GMcG)