Hospitals need to work together

Speaking at a meeting with officials of the Western Health and Social Services Trust he said: “I regard both Altnagelvin and Causeway Hospitals as centres of excellence and believe passionately that these two hospitals must be encouraged to step up the working partnerships which currently exists but must be developed in the interests of long-term planning to the mutual benefit of people living in both geographical areas.

“The fact that these two hospitals operate in different health trust areas is an impediment to progress and this is an issue which must be addressed in the longer term in the interest of both hospitals, but particularly to secure the future of the Causeway Hospital which cannot flourish in an atmosphere of uncertainty.

“Such a partnership would strengthen future development of hospitals in the North West and make possible the opportunity to step up collaboration with Letterkenny General Hospital and the new South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen.”