Altnagelvin Area Hospital

Introduction
Altnagelvin Area Hospital (Irish: Ospidéil Alt na nGealbhán) is the main hospital for the North West of Northern Ireland. It provides services to the city of Derry, but also some specialist and acute services for parts of neighbouring County Donegal, County Tyrone, County Antrim and County Fermanagh. It has 500 beds, employs over 2000  health care professionals, technical and support staff, and offers the most comprehensive medical services outside Belfast in Northern Ireland. Although, the population of the city of Derry/Londonderry itself is only about 100,000, the Trust  serves a population of over 275,000 people for some services,  and nearly 400,000 for others ( such as maxillofacial surgery).

It was the first hospital built in the whole of the United Kingdom after the Second World War in 1960. It is situated in a picturesque part of Waterside area of Derry City. The hospital tower itself consists of 10 floors, and is the tallest building in Derry.

With the downgrading of services in Tyrone County Hospital in Omagh, and consolidation of health services in the region as a whole, it is anticipated that Altnagelvin will increasingly be  serving as the  regional hub  in the provision of acute care for patients.

Specialties Represented
Anaesthetics (Full range of anaesthetic services including intensive care facilities)

Dermatology

ENT

Ophthalmic Surgery

Oral Surgery

Cardiology

Gastroenterology

Renal Medicine

Respiratory

Rheumatology

Diabetes

Orthodontics

General Surgery

Care of the Elderly

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Orthopaedics

Paediatrics

Radiology

A & E

Pathology

Bacteriology

Clinical Chemistry

Haematology

Neurology

Urology

Palliative Care

Visiting Consultants also provide clinics in: -

1. Neurosurgery

2. Paediatric Neurology

3. Clinical Oncology/Radiotherapy

4. Clinical Genetics

5. Plastic Surgery

6. Thoracic Surgery

7. Paediatric Cardiology

8. Restorative Dentistry

Developments
The hospital is currently undergoing expansion and development. The latest phase of expansion was launched in 2004, and expected to cost over £100 a million over a period of 10 years. Recent developments has included the establishment of an outpatients renal hemodialysis unit in 2005, and the opening of a new laboratory and pharmaceuticals facillity in 2007.

University Affiliations
The hospital has research and teaching links with the University of Ulster, Queen's University of Belfast and the  National University of Ireland, Galway. In particular, it is in a unique position of  being the only hospital  in either  Northern or the Republic of Ireland  of  having a constant commitment to taking  medical students on ward-based  attachments from universities from both countries.