The head consultant at Altnagelvin Hospital's accident and emergency department has said the current facility is "not fit for purpose."
Alan McKinney made the comment at a meeting of Derry City Council's Regional Services Committee this week where he called on the Executive at Stormont to make more funding available for the plans to upgrade the department.
Dr. McKinney briefed cou
ncillors on the plans for moving the department to a new specifically designed building. "Unfortunately our plans for Accident and Emergency are not funded. We are waiting for the department to get back to us.
"We recognise that the current Accident and Emergency building is not fit for purpose. We have built an extension but that is not enough but we are determined to improve," he said.
The consultant also said he is concerned how long it will take for funding to be given to the redevelopment plans.
"If we get funding it will be in four or five years. We have done indicative plans and they have been with the department for a year now.
"We are concerned that the recession is now here and that the department may decide they may look elsewhere for the next round of funding.
"It may take three to five years but I don't think Accident and Emergency can wait that long," he said.
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