Government unveil £600m health plan

Plans for a £600 million "modernisation and development" of the Northern health Board area have been unveiled by the Government.

The plans, which have been presented to the Northern Health and Social Services Board (NHSSB) management board, will also be submitted to the Department of Health for consideration.

The proposals represent some £600 million invested over the next 20 years and will include the development of hospitals, health centres and the full range of community health and social care facilities in the area.

Health Minister Shaun Woodward said: "Health and social services are about people and the people who use our services and work in them deserve to do so in a modern, purpose built environment.

"This is one of a number of proposals I am expecting from the Health and Social Services Boards across Northern Ireland and represents a tremendous opportunity to transform the health service in the Northern Board area.

The Department's modernisation policy, set out in Developing Better Services (2002), proposed that Antrim Area and Causeway Hospitals would continue to serve as an Acute Hospital with Mid-Ulster (Magherafelt) and Whiteabbey becoming Local Hospitals and development of primary and community care services.

An allocation for modernisation and development of Northern Board Hospitals and supporting services was included in the £2.2 billion investment programme announced for health and social services over the next ten years in the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland in December 2004.

The Board's proposals amount to some £600 million and this will be prioritised, phased and implemented over a 10-20 year period.

(MB/SP)