In the years 2008/09 to 2010/11, some £620m has been invested in improving the estate that supports our health and social care system. Some of the key infrastructural achievements are set out below.
• Seven new health and care centre facilities have been completed, providing high quality services in a community environment. As an example, the Portadown Health & Care Centre, an award-winning example of healthcare design, opened in March 2010 and includes eight GP practices together with diagnostic and treatment facilities.
• The new Regional Child and Family Adolescent Mental Health facility became fully operational during 2010 and provides a specialist inpatient service for children and young people with mental health problems.
• A new medical imaging centre opened in the Royal Group of hospitals in October 2008. It includes one of only two PET scanners and Cyclotrons on the island of Ireland.
• A new Trauma and Orthopaedics unit at Craigavon Hospital was completed in 2010. The unit provides two additional theatres, a new bed ward, and a full range of therapy and support services.
• The new Lisburn Assessment & Resource Centre offers an accessible, safe and secure environment for 120 trainees who have learning, physical and sensory disabilities and also provides specialist treatment for up to 30 people with more complex needs. The services provided at the centre include social work, behavioural support services and speech and language therapy.
• The first phase of the Ulster Hospital redevelopment was completed and includes a new critical care complex, renal unit, maternity hospital, multi-storey car park, stores and site infrastructure.
• The south wing development at Altnagelvin was completed and includes accommodation for maternity and neo-natal services, some cancer services, adult acute services, rehabilitation services, cardiac conditions and those suffering from stroke.
• The new Downe Hospital provides a range of services including a day procedure unit, outpatient department, maternity, rehabilitation and diagnostics services.
• Completion of a range of new children's homes in Bangor, Newtownards, Antrim and Newry provides modern accommodation to this client group.
• The Iveagh (Conicar) Treatment & Assessment Unit provides a completely new eight-bedded unit with specialist health and social care for children and young people with learning disabilities with the aim of providing them with a better quality of life within a community setting.
• The Beechall and Shankill Health & Care Centres opened in 2011, providing a full range of services for children, adults, elderly and people with disabilities including nursing, social work, dentistry, speech and language therapy, podiatry and physiotherapy.
• Investment continued in addressing the infrastructural risks associated with the older buildings across the estate.
• There has been significant investment in ICT over the period, including the NI Picture Archiving System (NIPACS), Theatre Management Systems (TMS), and GMS Computer Upgrades for GP Surgeries.