50 days to opening of the South West Acute Hospital
01/05/2012
With only 50 days to go to the opening of the new South West Acute Hospital on 21 June 2012 Western Trust staff helped launch 50 helium balloons outside the main entrance to the Erne Hospital in celebration.
Speaking at the launch Dr Jim Kelly, Western Trust Consultant Geriatrician and Clinical Lead said: “The Erne Hospital has served the community extremely well over the past 48 years and as you walk the corridors the excitement is palpable for staff, patients and visitors as they look forward to the opening of new hospital. The Service of Thanksgiving led by the Hospital Chaplains last Sunday provided an opportunity for the hospital family and the local community to celebrate and acknowledge to the tremendous work delivered at the Erne.
He added: “We are now focussing on getting ready for the handover of the building from the contractor Northern Ireland Healthcare Group (NIHG) on 19 May 2012, equipping the hospital and staff familiarisation training to ensure everything is in place to begin treating patients from 8am on the 21 June 2012. We have developed robust plans in conjunction with Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, Roads Service and PSNI to ensure the safe and smooth transfer of patients from the Erne Hospital to the new hospital on 21 June 2012. We would like to take the opportunity to thank the public for their continuing support during this transition period.”
A public information leaflet has been distributed to residential and business addresses across County Fermanagh and County Tyrone over the past few weeks and the Trust is continuing with their public advertising campaign to ensure that everyone is aware of the opening of the new acute hospital in just over a months’ time. Public open events are being planned for the 6 and 9 June 2012 and further details will be provided nearer the time.