No funding for hospital revamp warns Minister

There had been plans for a 50 million redevelopment of the site, which would see it being transformed into a local hospital.

However, speaking in response to a question by Lagan Valley MLA Paul Givan in the Assembly this week, Mr McGimpsey said there was no funding currently available for the scheme.

"In my projections for the investment strategy for Northern Ireland budget and the capital budget, I saw Lagan Valley Hospital having a very bright future," said Mr McGimpsey.

"I still see it as having a very bright future, but it requires funding and investment coming forward. I do not see that taking place right now. Neither do I see the revenue stream coming with that.

"I will be able to answer with certainty once we get a settlement of the budget," he continued. "Until then, I am in no position to tell where the redevelopment of Lagan Valley Hospital will stand.

"We will open the new midwifery-led unit in Lagan Valley Hospital in February. As far as my plans were concerned, that was to be the start of a new beginning for Lagan Valley Hospital as a local hospital," he concluded.

Responding to the bleak statement from the Minister Mr Givan said: "I am alarmed at the response from the Health Minister, there is huge financial pressures facing the Northern Ireland Executive after the Comprehensive Spending Review was announced in London reducing the capital budget for Northern Ireland by 40% which equates to hundreds of millions pounds next year.

"During the Westminster election the DUP warned that the Conservative Party would cut Northern Ireland's budget and now as a consequence the development of Lagan Valley Hospital is in jeopardy.

"I am meeting with the Chief Executive of the South Eastern Health Trust next Wednesday and this issue will be top of my agenda," concluded Mr Givan.

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