Hospital opens £15.5m theatres

Craigavon Hospital has opened a £15.5 million theatre suite, with state of the art facilities including two new theatres.
Some of the staff team in one of the new theatres at Craigavon Area Hospital.Some of the staff team in one of the new theatres at Craigavon Area Hospital.
Some of the staff team in one of the new theatres at Craigavon Area Hospital.

Existing theatres were refurbished in a project which began four years ago in May 2011.

The hospital’s main operating department now has eight operating theatres including two for Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery along with an orthopaedic ward and associated support accommodation. It also has a 22-bed Recovery Ward comprising of three segregation rooms, one fitted with a bariatric hoist, space for ‘twin-cots’ and a four bed multi-purpose bay.

The development includes a new waiting area for day-case patients; a seminar room for staff training; new staff rest room and changing facilities; and dedicated storage accommodation.

Welcoming the new development Paula Clarke, Chief Executive (Interim) for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust said: “The number of surgical procedures we undertake in our hospitals has been significantly increasing each year.

Last year 16,587 surgical procedures took place at Craigavon Area Hospital alone, so this new development has been a very welcome and indeed, much needed boost.

“The environment for patients and staff is a key part of being able to deliver the highest quality care and we are delighted our dedicated team of surgical experts from across the Southern Trust now have state of the art facilities to help them achieve this.

“I would like to congratulate everyone involved for their co-operation and dedication in realising this development whilst ensuring that normal hospital activity could continue without any major disruption. We now have a really impressive and well equipped theatre environment fit to meet the demands of the growing Southern Trust population.”