AQW 8072/17-22 Written question to the Minister of Health
To ask the Minister of Health for an update on plans for a Nightingale facility at Whiteabbey Hospital to provide additional Health Service capacity for COVID-19 care.
Asked by Stewart Dickson MLA on 2 October 2020
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 2 October 2020
- Answer due by
- 19 October 2020
- Answered
- 12 October 202010 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
The experience of the first surge in COVID-19 identified a role for additional step down capacity to support flow though hospital and ease pressure on the system; therefore, I have commissioned work to develop an additional Nightingale facility on the Whiteabbey Hospital site.
This regional, intermediate care facility at Whiteabbey hospital will provide 100 additional beds for patients who have recovered beyond the acute phase of infection, but who still require intense rehabilitation. Work is continuing at pace to deliver this additional facility and remains on track to be operational by December 2020.