Health Minister opens new Day Surgery Unit at Antrim Hospital
Thursday, 20 November 2008
Jim Stewart, Chairman of the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, and Health Minister Michael McGimpsey are pictured with Noreen, Catherine and Malachy O’Loan as they cut the ribbon to officially open the Day Surgery Unit at Antrim Area Hospital.
HEALTH Minister, Michael McGimpsey, has officially opened the new Day Surgery Unit at Antrim Area Hospital.
The unit will deliver a patient-focused service for daycase gynaecology, ear nose and throat (ENT), dental and general surgery.
Speaking after the opening ceremony, the Minister said: "This state-of-the-art facility will provide staff with a high quality work area, fully equipped with modern technology which will facilitate a wide range of day procedures.
“Changes such as these are vital to the modernisation of our health services and to ensuring that the hospital services we provide are of the highest possible quality and are provided in the most modern facilities.
“We must recognise and be able to adapt to advances in medicine and surgery, allowing an increasing number of procedures to be provided as day case rather than as inpatient."
The new Day Surgery Unit has 18 staff and comprises a reception area and a spacious eight-bedded admission/recovery area.
The anaesthetic room provides facilities for both the induction of anaesthetic and minor procedures and has lighting to operating room standards.
Mr McGimpsey added: "Ensuring people are able to have the necessary treatment and be able to return home on the same day will help lessen the anxiety which patients sometimes experience when they have to attend hospital.
“That has significant benefits for the patient, for their families and carers and for the service, allowing us to treat significantly more people within the same resources."
