A major new hospital facility for the North West has been officially welcomed.

The new £14.1million building project at Altnagelvin in Londonderry will treat patients with cardiac conditions and those suffering from stroke.

Acute medical services and acute care services for older people will also be provided.

Speaking at the official opening, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said: "No one could fail to be impressed by this tremendous facility and I commend those involved in its planning, design and development.

"Ensuring a strong programme of capital investment has been one of my key priorities since becoming Minister. If we are to deliver world class healthcare, we must be adequately resourced. Despite the severe cuts to my budget I am determined that the people of Northern Ireland will have access to modern facilities for their healthcare needs," he said.

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Whilst at Altnagelvin, the Minister toured the new facility, meeting patients and staff and concluded: "In this 50th anniversary year of Altnagelvin's opening the hospital continues to grow and improve - with advances in medicine and technology the care provided gets better and better and such investment helps the hospital go from strength to strength."

Gerard Guckian, Chairman of the Western Health and Social Care Trust, welcomed Minister McGimpsey to the hospital.

He said: "The Western Trust is delighted to have patients move into the second phase of this state-of-the-art South Wing development at Altnagelvin Hospital, where patients will be cared for in a much improved environment with a substantial increase in single rooms with en suite facilities.

"Patients are accessing acute medical, stroke and some acute care of older people's services in this brand new facility. The move of patients into the coronary care unit and cardiology ward is anticipated in the coming weeks.

"As Trust Chairman I would like to pay tribute to all those involved in bringing these new facilities to completion including the design and contractor teams, the Health Estates Investment Group and of course our own Western Trust staff. I want to acknowledge the central role the Minister and DHSSPS played in securing funding for this project which will benefit patients from right across the Western Trust area."

(GK)