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08/11/2002
Public debate on site for maternity unit
The hotly debated issue over where Belfast's central maternity unit should be based reached another chapter today with the launch of a government consultation document.
The Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety Des Browne, who has taken over the health brief since direct rule was imposed, unveiled the weighty document on Friday for public discussion.
It puts forth the merits of a maternity unit being built at the Royal Victoria Hospital in west Belfast and the City Hospital in south Belfast.
Both hospitals argue that the siting of maternity services on their campus would be better and safer for mothers, babies and women because of the other specialist services they can offer.
Mr Browne said: "In publishing this consultation document I am seeking to fulfil the promise of my predecessor and am consulting in the way she had planned to. The document is extensive.
"It incorporates the full proposals submitted by both trusts, together with a professional assessment of the existing Royal Maternity Hospital."
The consultation period is due to end on 31 January next year.
Outlining details of the process Mr Browne said it was important that as many people and organisations as possible have an opportunity to comment on the document.
"The provision of centralised maternity services in Belfast has been an important issue for some time and few issues have proved so controversial or generated so much interest and passionate debate."
Three different ministers have made a decision on the siting, but their decisions have twice been overturned by judicial review and one was reversed following an independent review.
In the last instance Sinn Féin Health Minister Bairbre de Brún opted for the Royal as the best site.
That was quashed by judicial review in November 2000 prompting the latest consultation exercise.
(AMcE)
The Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety Des Browne, who has taken over the health brief since direct rule was imposed, unveiled the weighty document on Friday for public discussion.
It puts forth the merits of a maternity unit being built at the Royal Victoria Hospital in west Belfast and the City Hospital in south Belfast.
Both hospitals argue that the siting of maternity services on their campus would be better and safer for mothers, babies and women because of the other specialist services they can offer.
Mr Browne said: "In publishing this consultation document I am seeking to fulfil the promise of my predecessor and am consulting in the way she had planned to. The document is extensive.
"It incorporates the full proposals submitted by both trusts, together with a professional assessment of the existing Royal Maternity Hospital."
The consultation period is due to end on 31 January next year.
Outlining details of the process Mr Browne said it was important that as many people and organisations as possible have an opportunity to comment on the document.
"The provision of centralised maternity services in Belfast has been an important issue for some time and few issues have proved so controversial or generated so much interest and passionate debate."
Three different ministers have made a decision on the siting, but their decisions have twice been overturned by judicial review and one was reversed following an independent review.
In the last instance Sinn Féin Health Minister Bairbre de Brún opted for the Royal as the best site.
That was quashed by judicial review in November 2000 prompting the latest consultation exercise.
(AMcE)
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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.
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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.
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:This evening will be dry. Then the rest of the night will be mainly dry and mostly cloudy, although rain may reach the north coast later. Windy. Minimum temperature 7 °C.
