The South Eastern Trust has secured approval and funding from the Department of Health for 53 new beds which will help meet increasing demand at the Ulster Hospital.
The new patient accommodation will be on Level 6 of the almost completed Acute Services Block, and will comprise 53 single, en- suite bedrooms across two wards. It is expected the building, which also houses a new Emergency Department, will be open to patients in Autumn 2021.
Interim Director of Hospital Services David Robinson said: This has been a challenging winter with increasing numbers of patients requiring admission to hospital and lengthy waits in our Emergency Department at the Ulster Hospital. The new beds will help staff to deliver care in accommodation which reflects the complex healthcare needs of their patients. Once opened, the Acute Services Block will provide our staff with modern, fit for purpose facilities.
The welcome news brings total funding for the Phase B redevelopment to £278m.The final stage of the Ulster Hospital Redevelopment programme, Phase C, will include a new Children’s Department and Outpatient Acute Treatment Centre.