Construction of new £32m health centre in Co Fermanagh to begin within weeks

WORK on a new £32m health centre in Co Fermanagh is finally set to begin within weeks, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has confirmed.

Expected to open in 2026, a new Lisnaskea Health Centre will support 16 GPs and provide service to around 30,000 people in the Lisnaskea and surrounding East Fermanagh area.

The business case had originally been approved in December 2021 at an estimated cost of £18.5m, but the Department of Health said that adverse site conditions and rising construction costs were behind the increased price.

It follows frustration in the area over stretched GP services, including a protest at the existing Lisnaskea Health Centre last month which was condemned by medics as creating “a hostile atmosphere for staff.”

Michaela McAreavey chants: Sacked lorry driver who lost unfair dismissal case saddled with £10,000 in costs

easyJet defends hand luggage policy after passenger charged an extra £48 at Belfast International Airport

Mr Nesbitt said he was delighted to greenlight the project, which gives the Western Trust permission to award a construction contract and start work within weeks.

“I appreciate that primary care services are under particular strain in the Lisnaskea and East Fermanagh area and recognise that people have been waiting for some time on this news,” he said.

“However, it was imperative that the necessary checks and balances were completed before proceeding.”

He said the creation of central hub in Lisnaskea would give increased access across a range of services including; podiatry, speech and sanguage therapy, physiotherapy, mental health services and older people services.

“There are significant pressures across our health and social care system, and while our primary care teams are at the frontline in facing this challenge, I was incredibly disappointed to learn of the completely unacceptable behaviour that the Lisnaskea practice team have recently experienced,” he said.

“There is no place for such behaviour, and I reiterated my full support for the team when speaking to them today. As Health Minister I remain committed to investing in primary care infrastructure to support the transformation of health and social care and help improve services for the population of Northern Ireland.”