Northern Ireland

Department of Health spent more than £85,000 on mock-up rooms showing what new Omagh Hospital would look like

Medical staff were attacked in the Newry hospital on Easter Monday
Medical staff were attacked in the Newry hospital on Easter Monday Medical staff were attacked in the Newry hospital on Easter Monday

THE Department of Health spent more than £85,000 on two mock-up rooms showing what the new Omagh Hospital would look like.

Veteran Omagh hospital campaigner and SDLP councillor Dr Josephine Deehan said that the figure seemed "very high" at a time of budget cuts.

"The local enhanced hospital for Omagh is a very welcome development and will add greatly to the healthcare provision in the Omagh area," she said.

"But on the face of it the figure does seem very high."

Dr Deehan said while it was important to have mock-up rooms so that any error in the layout can be corrected, that "in an age of austerity when we see budgets being squeezed any decision has to made in the most cost effective manner."

Her comments came after Health Minister Simon Hamilton defended the expenditure, saying the money spent "represents 0.1% of the project value."

The minister confirmed the expenditure in a written answer to a tabled assembly question.

"In line with best practice, the competition process for the tender award for the construction of the Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex included the requirement for the successful contractor to construct two temporary patient areas known as "mock-up" rooms," he said.

"The cost of the mock-up rooms was £85,800 with the loose free standing equipment being allocated on a loan and return basis from suppliers already on the Health and Personal Social Services (HPSS) procurement contracts list. This represents 0.1 per cent of the project value."

The minister said that the mock-up rooms also allowed for risk assessments to be carried out.

Mr Hamilton said: "In Omagh, there are 90 consultation/examination rooms and 48 en-suite in-patient bedrooms. The mock-up review ensured that the layout and quality of furniture and equipment met back care, disability and health and safety requirements and enabled good access and free movement around the room for staff and patients."

He added: "The review also ensured that the specialist advisor in infection prevention and control was satisfied with the finishes and fittings in terms of their risk assessments."

The minister was responding to a written assembly question by SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan,

Construction of the new Omagh Hospital began in July 2014, with work due to finish by the end of 2016.

Mr Hamilton said: "This will be immediately followed by a commissioning period leading to an anticipated opening during the spring of 2017."

The new hospital, which will cost around £86 million, will provide a range of services including 40 intermediate care beds and a 24 hour renal dialysis unit.