Archive – Completed Developments

MRI Unit

A new 2-storey MRI Unit, funded with support from the Big Lottery Fund (previously the New Opportunities Fund), was opened in June 2004. The unit provides a new magnetic resonance imaging service never delivered at the Ulster Hospital before. Magnetic Resonance Imaging uses magnetism and radio-waves to produce highly detailed cross-sectional and 3D images and can be used to image virtually every part of the human body as well as carry out some functional tests. The technique is non-invasive, and does not employ ionizing radiation.

Staff Car Park

A 400-space staff car park to the rear of the site opened in January 2005. This facility has relieved some of the pressure on parking space and enabled the commencement of the new Renal and Maternity buildings.

Occupational Therapy Building

This building opened in January 2005 and houses the Occupational Therapy Department as well as the Hand/Dressings Clinic and the Physiotherapy Department for plastic surgery patients. The relocation of clinical services to this new building enabled the commencement of the Ward 12 refurbishment scheme.

Ward 12 Refurbishment

Ward 12 had been closed as an inpatient ward for several years and, following major refurbishment, re-opened to patients on 27^th June 2005.

The refurbishment of Ward 12 was a complicated project. To clear the ward for building, a number of departments had to move elsewhere on the site. Maxillo-facial Laboratory moved to Home 2, Oral Surgery moved to the ground floor, Main Hospital, and Occupational Therapy, Plastic Surgery Physiotherapy and the Hand Dressings Clinic all moved to purpose built accommodation on the first floor, Main Hospital. Patients and staff from these departments have benefited greatly from having improved accommodation and facilities.

Temporary Maternity Outpatients

The temporary Maternity Outpatients Department, located at the front of the hospital, was opened in March 2005. This building accommodates all the Departments and Clinics from the old Maternity Outpatients, which has been demolished to enable the development of the new Maternity Unit scheduled for completion in Spring 2007.

A & E Refurbishment

The Accident and Emergency Department at the Ulster Hospital was initially designed to cater for 25,000 patients per annum, but now treats 65,000 patients per annum and was therefore in need of urgent upgrade. Refurbishment meant expanding and modernising the department to improve the flow of patients with emergency conditions. The new accommodation provides:

Work was completed in the summer of 2005.