23rd December 2011
Contractors working on the new acute hospital for the South West in Enniskillen were today thanked for all their efforts in building the hospital on time and on budget. The £276 million project will receive its first patients in just six months time as it opens its doors on the 22nd June 2012. The Northern Ireland Health Group, the consortium which built and will jointly run the hospital with the Western Health and Social Care Trust have, via their Building Contractor FCC Elliott, employed 127 sub contracting firms since construction started in May 2009. There have been 777 new jobs created and 1150 jobs sustained, ranging from pile drivers to stone masons, from glaziers to concrete specialists, and from mechanical and electrical engineers to high tech hospital equipment supply companies. NIHG General Manager Keith Abel said: “We wanted to wish all those who worked on this magnificent and detailed project a very Happy Christmas. Each one of them did their bit to produce this highly complex building including over 80 apprentices who can look back in years to come with immense pride. “We are on the home stretch now with many areas complete and we are looking forward to the next six months of putting the final touches to this high quality building. “Most of the firms involved in the build are local and I would just like to congratulate them for their quite remarkable skills and ability and the professional way they carried out their trades and professions.” Joe Lusby, Western Trust Deputy Chief Executive said: “The Western Trust very much welcomes this opportunity to be able to thank the many Sub Contractors and their staff who have contributed significantly to the development of the new acute hospital for the South West. On behalf of colleagues from the Erne hospital in particular, I would like to offer my sincere thanks to the Sub Contractors’ staff, many of whom come from the catchment area of the new hospital, for their craftsmanship, attention to detail and for the many hours of work which they have committed to ensuring that this impressive, state of the art acute hospital remains on schedule to be handed over to the Trust in May of next year.” |
