09/10/2026
We have marked the formal launch of the newly redesigned Ward 5 at Waterside Hospital, a major development that is providing additional intermediate care capacity and supporting the rehabilitation and recovery of older people across the Trust area.
The reopening of Ward 5 follows an extensive programme of planning, consultation and refurbishment work approved by the Trust’s Corporate Management Team in June 2025. The project was undertaken as part of the Trust’s commitment to improving patient flow, supporting acute hospital pressures and enhancing patient experience.
Ward 5 now operates as a bed-based intermediate care facility, supporting patients who no longer require acute hospital treatment but need further rehabilitation and assessment to maximise their independence and facilitate a safe discharge from hospital. Patients benefit from a person-centred approach delivered by an integrated multidisciplinary team including medical, nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and social work professionals.
Speaking about the development, Dr Maura O’Neill, Director of Older People’s Service at the Western Trust highlighted the collective effort involved in delivering the project, with contributions from Estates teams, contractors, transport services, support staff, pharmacy, medical, nursing, allied health professional and social work colleagues.
“The formal launch event celebrates the achievement of creating a modern and welcoming environment that will help support older people through rehabilitation, recovery and discharge planning while providing much-needed capacity within the wider health and social care system.
“This successful redevelopment required significant collaboration across a number of Trust sites and I would like to take the opportunity to say a huge thank you to the collective effort of our staff to ensure this development has been achieved. Several services were relocated to enable the creation of the ward, including the Hospital at Home Team and Wheelchair Assessment Service, which moved to refurbished accommodation at Elderwood. Other services, including physiotherapy, medical and hospital social work teams, remained within the Waterside Hospital footprint, with new facilities created to support their work.
“Ward 5 initially operated temporarily from Level 5 at Altnagelvin Area Hospital from November 2025 before transferring patients back to the newly refurbished Waterside Hospital facility on 1 July 2026.
“Looking ahead, the Older People’s Services Directorate will explore opportunities for Ward 5 and associated intermediate care services to contribute to the development of an integrated frailty pathway across the Western Trust, further supporting older people to receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.”