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30/06/2003
Royal selected as central Belfast maternity unit
Health Minister Angela Smith has announced that the Royal Group of Hospitals will be the location of the new centralised maternity unit for Belfast.
Following a prolonged battle between the City and Royal hospitals over where the unit should be located, direct rule Minister Angela Smith said that there could be no further delay on an issue that had been ongoing for nine years.
The decision has followed two consultations, the second of which ended on February 28 this year. Announcing the outcome - reached earlier this month by former Health Minister Des Browne, who was replaced in June as part of the recent cabinet reshuffle - Angela Smith said: “It is clear that there are genuinely and strongly held differences of opinion on the location of the new maternity hospital.
“However, it is equally clear that both Trusts are committed to developing and delivering the best and most sustainable maternity services for women, mothers and babies in the years to come. I look forward to working with both Trusts in moving forward and taking the necessary steps to provide a maternity hospital fit for the 21st century.
Ms Smith added: “I recognise that there will be disappointment among supporters of the Belfast City Hospital. However, within the context of the continuing redevelopment of both the Royal and Belfast City Hospitals, I can assure everyone that the Belfast City Hospital will continue to have a key role to play in the development and delivery of key regional services. Through the significant investment currently underway in the Regional Cancer Centre, and the recent decision to relocate key services such as haematology and dermatology, it will further establish itself at the heart of Northern Ireland’s health care system as a provider of the highest quality local and regional hospital services.”
The Minister said that she had written to the Chair of the Royal Group of Hospitals asking him to "proceed immediately" with the preparation of the necessary business case for the new hospital.
Previous decisions on the location of a centralised Belfast maternity unit, reached by Tony Worthington and Bairbre de Brun, were both defeated by legal actions taken privately.
(SP)
Following a prolonged battle between the City and Royal hospitals over where the unit should be located, direct rule Minister Angela Smith said that there could be no further delay on an issue that had been ongoing for nine years.
The decision has followed two consultations, the second of which ended on February 28 this year. Announcing the outcome - reached earlier this month by former Health Minister Des Browne, who was replaced in June as part of the recent cabinet reshuffle - Angela Smith said: “It is clear that there are genuinely and strongly held differences of opinion on the location of the new maternity hospital.
“However, it is equally clear that both Trusts are committed to developing and delivering the best and most sustainable maternity services for women, mothers and babies in the years to come. I look forward to working with both Trusts in moving forward and taking the necessary steps to provide a maternity hospital fit for the 21st century.
Ms Smith added: “I recognise that there will be disappointment among supporters of the Belfast City Hospital. However, within the context of the continuing redevelopment of both the Royal and Belfast City Hospitals, I can assure everyone that the Belfast City Hospital will continue to have a key role to play in the development and delivery of key regional services. Through the significant investment currently underway in the Regional Cancer Centre, and the recent decision to relocate key services such as haematology and dermatology, it will further establish itself at the heart of Northern Ireland’s health care system as a provider of the highest quality local and regional hospital services.”
The Minister said that she had written to the Chair of the Royal Group of Hospitals asking him to "proceed immediately" with the preparation of the necessary business case for the new hospital.
Previous decisions on the location of a centralised Belfast maternity unit, reached by Tony Worthington and Bairbre de Brun, were both defeated by legal actions taken privately.
(SP)
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25 June 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
05 March 2002
Royal Hospital to probe Fertility Centre’s procedures
The Royal Hospitals Trust in Belfast has revealed they are conducting an internal investigation into technical administration procedures employed by the Regional Fertility Centre.
Royal Hospital to probe Fertility Centre’s procedures
The Royal Hospitals Trust in Belfast has revealed they are conducting an internal investigation into technical administration procedures employed by the Regional Fertility Centre.
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Perhaps a touch of ground frost. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
