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AT least three operating theatres within the Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex are to be used as locations for elective surgeries, following an announcement from the Health Minister, Robin Swann.
The hospital is one of two chosen as sites to ease the long waiting lists for planned surgeries and because of their status of being free from Covid-19 patients. The other is Musgrave Hospital in Belfast.
It is hoped that using both hospitals in this way will ensure planned operations can continue safely during the winter.
The news has been welcomed by the Royal College of Surgeons.
Northern Ireland director, Mark Taylor, said it had ‘long recommended’ the rollout of surgical hubs on what he described as ‘Covid-light sites.’
“These hubs separate elective surgery from emergency care,” he added.
“They are the best way to keep surgery going if there are further outbreaks of Covid-19, flu or other winter-related pressures.”
Andy McKane, chairman of health trade union, Unison, in Omagh and Fermanagh said anything which brought work to the local area is to be welcomed.
“It is a positive development when elective surgery or any other care provision is brought to the Omagh area,” he said.
“We have lost far too much care provision when the Tyrone County Hospital was closed.
“I think there is room for enhancement in the level and variety of care that we provide in Omagh.
“There are theatres in the Omagh Hospital which are not being used and, providing that the surgeons can be obtained to staff them, then this is going to be an important development for patients.
“There is no reason why they shouldn’t make maximum use of those theatres.
“That’s good business practice.”
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