A ceremony has been held to mark the grand opening of the £115 million Acute Services Block (ASB) at Ulster Hospital.

Health Minister Robin Swann visited the site to open and tour the new facilities, which represent the initial phase of the multi-million pound works.

The new building will feature state-of-the-art services, housing 213 beds across nine wards providing essential links with both the recently constructed Inpatient Ward Block and Critical Care Complex, enhancing patient flow and visitor access throughout the hospital site. A new Nuclear Medicine service has been installed to provide a diagnostic and treatment service for both adults and children.

The Medical, Stroke, Renal, Gynaecology and Care of the Elderly wards will also transfer to the new complex from the existing main ward block, with the hospital's Emergency Department to move to the new block in the spring of next year.

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Consultant Dr Kevin Dynan said: "Having toured the new wards it is not an exaggeration to say that the facilities are state of the art. The side rooms and treatment areas will ensure that our patients benefit from the very highest levels of privacy, comfort and excellent care. The single rooms and the extra space will also help us to maintain the highest standards of infection control. While this has always been important, it is especially so in the era of the Covid pandemic.

"The Ulster Hospital's original wards have served the local population well for the last six decades, but as they approach their 60th birthday the time is right for this brand new Acute Services Block to enable the Ulster Hospital to keep meeting the healthcare needs of our patients for the next 60 years."

A visitor waiting area is conveniently located outside each ward entrance, with views across the inner landscaped courtyards, containing a number of sculptures from local artists.

The Trust's Chief Executive Roisin Coulter added: "We are immensely proud of the Acute Services Block which delivers state of the art facilities to improve infection control, patient experience, privacy and dignity and will provide our staff with fit for purpose, modern facilities in which to provide the highest quality of care to our patients."