Health Minister, Edwin Poots today visited Daisy Hill Hospital to see the new theatre accommodation being developed at the hospital.

The work includes two new operating theatres, a new recovery area and a new endoscope decontamination unit. This will increase the capacity for theatre sessions in Daisy Hill. The theatres work cost £4.6m and will be fully operational in early 2014.

The Minister said: "I am delighted to visit this impressive new theatre complex which will enable the Trust to deliver the highest standard of care for patients in the Newry & Mourne area and from across the Southern Trust area."

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Whilst at Daisy Hill the Minister was also taken on a tour around a number of other recently completed smaller developments around the Emergency Department which together represented a further investment of around £1.5m at the hospital.

The Emergency Department has been gradually refurbished and modernised over a number of small projects. These were completed over a period of time allowing for minimal distribution to services at Daisy Hill. The work included increased floor space, creating more treatment areas, providing better facilities for treating children and improving isolation facilities in line with best practice in infection control. The final element of work created a new central nurse's station, additional offices, a relative's room and a new improved waiting room.

The Minister added: "This work on theatre accommodation and the Emergency Department is clearly to the highest modern standards and will provide for the safe and high quality care in the most up-to-date facilities to continue long into the future."

(CD/JP)