LISTEN - Concern raised over plans to redeploy staff and shelve expansion plans at New Omagh hospital

by Gráinne Connolly

Concern is being raised after it was revealed that the Western Health and Social Care Trust plans to redeploy staff from the new Omagh Hospital, shelve expansion plans and to step down the body created to oversee the development. 

After only 6 months of opening the hospital which cost £105 million, SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan says this action "makes no sense at all", is regressive and must be challenged.

In response to these concerns, a spokesperson for the Western Trust said: 

“A small number of Trust staff employed in relation to the Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex Project will be met with shortly in relation to their future working arrangements now that the Complex is operational. 

"Staff affected will be dealt with in accordance with the Trust’s policies and procedures and no member of staff will be made compulsorily redundant.

“In terms of the Phase 2 Mental Health Crisis Unit, the business case is currently with the Department of Health (DoH) and has not yet been approved nor funding for the same ring fenced. 

"The Trust is therefore unable to progress with this scheme and does not have the resources to retain team members on this project until it receives business case approval and funding.”

A Trust board meeting will also be taking place in Derry-Londonderry today where MLA McCrossan says he will be there to "question them, to urge against these measures and try to give them some common sense."