New wardby June

The fire and consequent water damage on November 23, resulted in a number of wards being relocated and the closure of Ward 8 (orthopaedics).

This had a “significant impact” on treatment times with some patients being sent to England for surgery.

The Health Minister said patients whose procedures were cancelled were rescheduled as quickly as possible.

He stated: “As a result this had no material impact on waiting times in most specialities, with the exception of orthopaedics.”

This was because the ward was relocated to a ward with “a reduced bed complement while work is underway to refurbish an alternative ward.”

Orthopaedics lost 14 beds and a number of side rooms. This “had a significant impact on orthopaedic treatment times.”

Mr Poots stated: “The refurbished ward space with full bed numbers will be operational in June 2013.”

He added: “The Trust has advised that no patients scheduled for surgery in Altnagelvin Area Hospital have been sent to England for treatment; however eleven patients from the Trust’s waiting list chose to attend a service provider in England for their treatment.”

A few months before the fire, the Sentinel reported how staff and patients at Altnagelvin faced a “very significant risk of death or injury” due to inadequate fire precautions at the hospital’s main Tower Block. A report by the Health Estates Investment Group (HEIG), which was obtained by the Sentinel last August, found that non-compliance with fire codes at Altnagelvin meant a higher risk of fire spreading in the hospital.

It warned that old electrical distribution systems and Vulcanised India Rubber (VIR) cabling across the Western Trust added to the general fire risk.

Equally, boiler houses, sewerage pumps and chimneys across the Trust were found to be in poor condition and at risk of failure or collapse.