£2m loading bay ‘not in use’

A NEW £2m loading bay at Altnagelvin will not be brought into use until a new Receipt and Distribution (R&D) centre opens next year 2012/13.

The bay is not suitable for patients being taken to theatre and x-ray as it is located too far away from Altnagelvin’s lifts and its use would require addiitonal resources to operate.

Health Minsiter Edwin Poots explained: “The new loading bay was designed as part of a new R&D facility for receipt of goods and onwards distribution.

“This R&D centre is located at some significant distance from the core hospital distribution lifts and requires additional resources to transfer goods over greater distances and to bring the centre fully into operation.

“It is anticipated that the R&D centre, including the new loading bay, will be brought into use in the 2012/13 financial year.”

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