Extension officially opened

HEALTH Minister Michael McGimpsey officially opened a new £12m trauma and orthopaedic ward extension at Craigavon Area Hospital on Wednesday last.

It is the final part of a 15m project for fractures and orthopaedic services at the hospital.

The state-of-the-art unit - with bright, modern design - has 15 beds and includes seven single en suite rooms. And the team of six surgeons, led by Mr Ronan McKeown, offer the full range of services, from broken bones to elective procedures like hip and knee replacements.

The only services not available are for spinal injuries, which are still dealt with at the specialist unit in the Royal Hospital, Belfast.

There are two laminar theatre suites (one for trauma and one for orthopaedics) and the extension is designed to improve waiting times and create a roomier, more professional environment for surgery and recuperation.

Minister McGimpsey said: “This is a superb new facility which will bring real benefits to patients and staff. The new unit provides top class facilities for people in this region who need trauma and orthopaedic services and will ensure that the health service continues to provide safe, high quality services for the people of the Southern Trust area. It means that patients are able to have their treatment locally, rather than having to travel to Belfast.”

Following the official opening, the Minister toured the new unit and met with staff.

He said: “This development is further progress in my drive to modernise the infrastructure of health and social care services.”

Mrs Mairead McAlinden, acting chief executive of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust, said: “We are delighted to be opening this superb new facility, and are now moving into ward and theatre accommodation that will provide our patients and staff with the very best environment.

“The two new theatres are setting the standard for future theatre development in Northern Ireland and we are extremely proud of the facilities, and the service, which is now available to our local community.”

The new ward will be operational from May 4 and is a follow-on from the launch of trauma and orthopaedic services in Craigavon back in February 2008.

Laminar flow ventilation is used in modern orthopaedic operating theatres to reduce the number of infective organisms present in the air, which may lead to post-operative infection of the wound. This is of particular significance in joint prosthesis surgery such as knee replacement and hip replacement surgery.

The building contractor is Farrans Healthcare and the architect Milligan Reside Larkin, Newry, in association with P O’Hagan Architects.

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