Plans for the new acute hospital outside Enniskillen took a major step forward this week with the formal signing of the contract with the consortium, Northern Ireland Health Group.

Construction work is now beginning on site to ensure the £270m hospital is completed as planned by 2012.

At least 180 new jobs will be created and a further 670 jobs will be sustained as part of this major construction project.

In addition, there will be 32 trade apprenticeships and seven university placements.

A social and economic regeneration plan has also been put in place which will help maximise opportunities for the local workforce.

Welcoming the signing of the contracts between the Western Health and Social Care Trust and the Northern Ireland Health Group, NI Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey said: "This is a major step in the process of bringing a new state of the art hospital to the people of the South West.

"We are now entering the phase where the designs will become a reality and we will begin to see the new hospital take shape over the coming months with work beginning on site immediately."

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A range of acute services will be provided at the new hospital which will be integral to the Western Trust's network of Acute Services.

These will include round-the-clock accident and emergency services; critical care services; inpatient medicine; major and emergency surgery; consultant-led maternity services; paediatric services; day case surgery a comprehensive range of diagnostics, including radiology and laboratory tests and a comprehensive range of outpatient services.

The Minister continued: "Considering the complexities associated with this process and the ongoing economic difficulties, it is extremely satisfying to see the efforts of everyone involved coming to this key stage.

"With the current economic climate and the downturn in the construction industry, it is important to note that this project will provide 850 jobs, of which 180 will be new jobs, during the construction of the hospital.

"The creation of new jobs is a significant boost for the local economy particularly when so many people are losing their jobs."

Enabling works on the site were completed in August 2008 and included the provision of an access road for the NI Fire and Rescue Service, re-shaping the ground for the new buildings and works at the entrance for a new access roundabout.

The Western Trust Chairman, Gerard Guckian said: "We have reached the end of long and complex process and now look forward, with great anticipation, to seeing the new hospital take shape.

"We must now carefully manage the construction phase of the development, deliver it on time and to the high quality standards that we have set for our New Acute Hospital," he said.

(BMcC/JM)