Craigavon Area Hospital: Service developments showcased as minister hails ‘fantastic work carried out by staff’

Mr Nesbitt was welcomed by Trust chair Eileen Mullan and then toured the Trauma and Orthopaedics department, where he heard about ongoing work to improve patient flow and reduce waiting times.

At the Maternity Unit, he learned more about the Emerald Continuity of Midwifery Care model, which supports women to receive consistent, personalised care throughout their pregnancy journey.

The visit concluded with staff from the Healthcare Sciences team showcasing the breadth of diagnostic and support services they provide, highlighting their critical role in service users’ pathways and clinical decision making.

Mr Nesbitt said the visit was a great opportunity to meet teams within the hospital and to learn more about the work they’re doing to ensure better outcomes for patients. He added: “I was delighted to see how recent investment aimed at expanding trauma services across the region is being used by the Trust to help improve waiting times.

“I also want to pay tribute to the fantastic work carried out by staff in the maternity services, some of whom I had the opportunity to meet today, and also to express my gratitude to the staff working within the Healthcare Science field for the improvements to diagnostic testing and the service developments they have made.”

Deputy chief executive Colm McCafferty said the visit provided a valuable opportunity to showcase the dedication and expertise of our staff across a range of critical services. He continued: “This work reflects our continued focus on reform and innovation across the Trust. By strengthening multidisciplinary working, improving access to services and embracing new models of care, we are making real progress in delivering better outcomes for all of our service users.”