Altnagelvin Area Hospital

History

Altnagelvin Area Hospital was the first major hospital built in the United Kingdom after the Second World War and opened in 1960.

In February 2003 the hospital was designated as one of the nine acute hospitals in the acute hospital network of Northern Ireland on which healthcare would be focused under the government health policy 'Developing Better Services'.

A new renal hemodialysis unit was completed in 2005 and a new laboratory and pharmacy centre, procured under a private finance initiative contract, opened in 2007. A new south wing, designed by HLM Architects and built at a cost of £45 million, was completed in 2010.

In January 2011, it was revealed that 18,500 xrays taken in 2009 and 2010 in Altnagelvin's Medical Imaging Department had not been examined by a radiologist. As a result, four patients with cancer had their diagnosis delayed by several months.

In March 2011 a political row developed when Health Minister Michael McGimpsey announced the postponement of plans to develop a regional radiotherapy unit at the hospital.

Ambulance services

The Western Division of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) is headquartered at the Ambulance Station that is located within the hospital grounds.

University affiliations

The hospital is a teaching hospital, and has research and teaching links with Queen's University Belfast, the National University of Ireland, Galway and Ulster University.

References

References

1. (22 February 2010). "Altnagelvin Hospital staff reunite on 50th anniversary". Derry Journal.
2. "Developing Better Health Services (Topic: Health policy)".
3. (30 March 2005). "Arson attack wrecks NI hospital renal unit". Irish Times.
4. (16 August 2012). "Developers net millions from hospital 'lab' project". Londonderry Sentinel.
5. "New Hospital Building in Derry". e-Architect.
6. (3 February 2011). "Late X-ray hospital 'short-staffed'". Belfast Telegraph.
7. (26 March 2011). "Will cancer unit go ahead? Dublin and McGuinness say yes, McGimpsey says no". Belfast Telegraph.
8. "Area Contact Details {{!}} NIAS".
9. (2018-12-16). "Join Us!".
10. (August 2009). "General information guide for undergraduate medical student placement in Altnagelvin hospital". Western Health and Social Care Trust.