On 9 December 2009 the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Protection of Ulster, UK, Michael McGimpsey, visited the site of the new hospital FCC is building in Enniskillen.

The hospital's construction, begun six months ago, is budgeted at 270 million pounds sterling and is scheduled for completion in 2012.

The minister visited the site where the structure of the 65,000-square-metre hospital complex is being built, and talk concerned the spectacular progress of the works. "Construction is now well underway to deliver the new Acute Hospital for the people of the southwest".

This new hospital will be a landmark in the social care and health service provided by the Western Trust. The local community is benefiting from the project already, thanks to the subcontracts that have been awarded to local firms. "On site today there are about 200 workers and I have been informed by NIHG that, by this time next year, this will increase to 700", declared the minister.

Western Trust Chairman Gerard Guckian explained that the new acute hospital is a key element for the Trust's objective, which focuses on offering high-quality services for acute patient care. "The Western Trust is implementing a number of key initiatives in preparation for the new hospital. This includes the recent opening of the medical and surgical assessment unit in the Erne Hospital and the Cardiac Assessment unit in the Tyrone County Hospital in Omagh. This new state-of-the-art facility will help to attract and retain the very best medical/clinical staff", he explained.