Trust reveals vision for the future of the LVH

The Chief Executive of the South Eastern Trust, Mr Hugh McCaughey, who recently spoke with the Star about the future of the hospital, said he had a “clear vision” for the Lagan Valley and hoped that primary care in Lisburn could be integrated in one place.

“We would like to see primary care integrated into the site and everyone working more closely together,” he explained.

“The people of Lisburn will get a very specialist service,” continued Mr McCaughey. “There has been an increase in diagnostics, we have brilliant theatres and an exemplary midwifery unit.

“The last piece of the jigsaw is to get a front door to the hospital.”

The Trust’s Director of Hospital Services, Mr Seamus McGoran, said that discussions with local GPs were still ongoing but added: “We are hopeful that GPs in Lisburn will come onto the site.”

Mr McCaughey continued: “The current health centre is small and it is old.

“There are issues there and we all agree that it needs to relocate.

“GPs are frustrated by the difficulties in the building and they are currently looking at other options.

“Our clear vision is that primary care and secondary care need to work more closely together. There are benefits to having them co-located and working side by side.

“We want to see a new hospital on the site and we are still aggressively pursuing that.

“There is a very exciting and vibrant future for the Lagan Valley Hospital,” he added.

Mr McGoran said the Trust had been in discussions with the Department of Health about capital investment for the Lagan Valley and that he was “optimistic” about the future of the hospital.

“In very recent weeks we have been up with the Department of Health pursuing capital investment for the site,” he explained.

“It is a very lengthy process but it is still very much at the top of our agenda and I am confident it is moving in the right direction.

“I would be optimistic,” he added.