Magherafelt: £1.6m approved for new theatre equipment at Mid Ulster Hospital
A £1.6m business case has been approved by the Northern Health and Social Care Trust board for the replacement of theatre equipment at Mid Ulster Hospital in Magherafelt.
The Trust board gave the go-ahead at a meeting last week for the replacement of theatre ventilation and minor refurbishment of theatre/recovery area.
Members were told capital funding of £1,599,923 for backlog maintenance would be provided during two financial years with a spend of £1,065,241 in the first year and the sum of £534,682 during the latter.
The Trust board was advised that If the system is not replaced there is a “risk of theatre or recovery area closure due to ventilation failure, increased likelihood of cancelled or reduced surgical activity, continued exposure to non-compliance and clinical safety risks and escalation of backlog maintenance and cost pressures”.
A report presented to members described the hospital’s day procedure/theatre unit as “an important regional asset, enabling elective surgical activity to be delivered in a non-acute setting, thereby supporting waiting list initiatives and reducing pressure on major acute hospitals such as Antrim Area Hospital”.
It continued: “The operating theatre suite, recovery area, and theatre preparation areas are critical infrastructure within the hospital, supporting, delivery of planned (elective) surgical care, efficient use of resources through day case pathways, regional strategies to reduce waiting lists and improve access to care, and, provision of care in a safe, controlled clinical environment.”
The report noted: “The ventilation system in Mid Ulster Hospital’s day procedure/theatre and recovery Unit is over 50 years old and no longer meets current operational and compliance standards.
"The proposed system will provide modern ventilation to both theatres and associated recovery areas, ensuring a safe, compliant, and sustainable environment for patients and staff.
"At present, a single preparation room serves both theatres. As part of the project, this space will be sub-divided to create two dedicated preparation rooms, one for each theatre. In addition, a new dirty utility room will be provided for theatre two.
"These improvements will ensure that each theatre has its own dedicated preparation room, dirty utility, and anaesthetic room, enhancing workflow efficiency, infection prevention, and patient safety.”
It was noted the project will also include minor refurbishment works within the theatre recovery area, including the creation of a new doorway linking to the day surgery recovery area,