Derry General Hospital

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Altnagelvin Area Hospital opened in 1960 as the first major hospital built in the United Kingdom after the Second World War. In February 2003 it was designated as one of the nine acute hospitals in the acute hospital network of Northern Ireland under the government health policy 'Developing Better Services'. A new renal hemodialysis unit was completed in 2005, and a new laboratory and pharmacy centre, procured under a private finance initiative contract, opened in 2007. A new south wing, designed by HLM Architects and built at a cost of £45 million, was completed in 2010. In January 2011, it was revealed that 18,500 xrays taken in 2009 and 2010 in Altnagelvin's Medical Imaging Department had not been examined by a radiologist. As a result, four patients with cancer had their diagnosis delayed by several months. In March 2011 a political row developed when Health Minister Michael McGimpsey announced the postponement of plans to develop a regional radiotherapy unit at the hospital.

In Their Own Story

The Western Division of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) is headquartered at the Ambulance Station located within the hospital grounds. The hospital is a teaching hospital, with research and teaching links with Queen's University Belfast, the National University of Ireland, Galway and Ulster University.

Reader's Guide

Altnagelvin Area Hospital serves as the main hospital for the North West of Northern Ireland, located in Waterside, Derry. It provides services to the city of Derry and County Londonderry, and also offers some specialist and acute services for parts of neighbouring County Donegal, County Tyrone, County Antrim and County Fermanagh. Managed by the Western Health and Social Care Trust, the hospital has undergone significant developments since its opening in 1960, including a new renal hemodialysis unit in 2005, a laboratory and pharmacy centre in 2007, and a £45 million south wing completed in 2010. The hospital faced controversy in 2011 when 18,500 xrays from 2009 and 2010 were found unexamined, delaying cancer diagnoses for four patients, and when Health Minister Michael McGimpsey postponed plans for a regional radiotherapy unit.

Did You Know?

• Altnagelvin Area Hospital was the first major hospital built in the United Kingdom after the Second World War, opening in 1960.
• In January 2011, it was revealed that 18,500 xrays taken in 2009 and 2010 had not been examined by a radiologist, delaying cancer diagnoses for four patients.
• A new south wing, designed by HLM Architects, was completed in 2010 at a cost of £45 million.
• The hospital is a teaching hospital with research and teaching links to Queen's University Belfast, the National University of Ireland, Galway, and Ulster University.
• The Western Division of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service is headquartered at an Ambulance Station within the hospital grounds.