Gary McDonald Enterprise Editor
13 October, 2022 03:00
THE north’s largest non-public healthcare supplier Kingsbridge is opening a brand new outpatients centre in Ballykelly as a part of a wider £6 million funding which is creating 80 jobs within the north west.
Will probably be named after Liz Dallas, who was beforehand matron, hospital director and the longest-serving worker on the clinic, which was acquired by Kingsbridge 16 months in the past.
Services at Kingsbridge’s north west hospital embody 38 in a single day beds, eight day-case beds, an endoscopic suite and three theatres (two of that are laminar circulation with a state-of-the-art restoration unit). It additionally has emergency bloods on web site and 90 automobile parking areas.
Opening the centre is a part of a wider plan by Kingsbridge to broaden operations each in Belfast and Ballykelly (it additionally has a hospital in Sligo and an outpatients clinic in Letterkenny) and enhance mattress and theatre capability, in addition to including providers to incorporate the north’s first non-public intensive care unit and personal cardiac surgical procedure facility.
Anthony McKenna, basic supervisor at Kingbridge’s north west non-public hospital, stated: “After we first took over right here final 12 months, we made a dedication not simply to construct on present providers, however to ship a variety of specialisms which is able to improve the alternatives obtainable to everybody within the north west area and throughout the island.
“With this important funding, sufferers will now profit from eight medical session rooms and a nurse therapy room on the bottom ground, a newly put in laundry service which will probably be used throughout the entire hospital group, and on the primary ground, we’ve got created further workplace area for our increasing administration help groups.”
Mark Regan, chief govt of Kingsbridge Healthcare Group, stated there have been large advantages to the funding throughout the entire hospital.
“The brand new outpatients centre in Ballykelly will probably be underpinned by a complete refurbishment programme, which has already commenced for the broader hospital and can end in an entire remodelling of all ward bedrooms, and session rooms in the principle hospital together with the availability of further paediatric providers for the group.
“To enhance these providers, we’ve got put in a multi-million pound MRI scanner, the one non-public scanning facility of its sort in Northern Eire, which may scan sufferers whereas beneath anaesthetic.
“That is of explicit use for younger kids or sufferers with disabilities, who’re unable to remain utterly nonetheless for the scans, which may final between 15 and 60 minutes.
“The scanner may even be of curiosity to these sufferers who’re anxious, or expertise claustrophobia, given its sooner scan instances, its additional extensive tunnel and a 70 per cent discount in noise.
“The scanner will supply the newest in prime quality imaging and diagnostics in addition to offering a greater expertise for sufferers and sooner turnaround instances for our clinicians,” he added.
Dr Regan has invited Mrs Dallas to unveil a plaque and formally open the centre named in her honour.
He added: “Liz was so nicely revered and extremely regarded when she labored on the hospital right here for practically three many years, so it was very becoming to name the brand new outpatients centre after her. The employees and administration have been delighted to welcome her again and provides her a VIP tour of the brand new facilities.”
