Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has renewed its call for a new mental health unit at Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital in Omagh, with councillors describing the current Lime and Elm wards as 'Dickensian' and not fit for purpose.

At a recent Policy and Resources Committee meeting, members agreed to write again to Health Minister Robbie Butler, requesting that he visit the wards and commit to building a new acute mental health facility. Sinn Féin councillor Barry McElduff said the wards are in very poor physical condition and include shared dormitories that are not appropriate for mental health recovery. He stated that staff are doing wonderful work but the conditions are unacceptable.

Councillor McElduff also noted that the greatest number of emergency call-outs from the NI Fire and Rescue Service and the PSNI to health facilities is at Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital. He criticised former Health Minister Mike Nesbitt for not visiting the wards during his visits, and said there is a serviced site adjacent to the hospital ready for development with a departmental commitment.

A response from the Minister's private office said he would be pleased to meet with members, but his diary is extremely busy and invitations are being processed. Director of Community and Wellbeing John Boyle confirmed a letter had been sent to the Minister on the specific point of the wards last month, but no response had been received.

Independent councillor Josephine Deehan said it is an understatement to say the buildings are not fit for purpose and not conducive to recovery. She said it is shameful that the Department of Health has not committed to investment in services at a time when mental health difficulties are at an all-time high.

DUP councillor Errol Thompson said the council has been pursuing this issue since 2017 and many ministers have been in place since then without substantive response. He supported reissuing the request for the Minister to visit Lime and Elm wards and recommend the new unit be built.

The council agreed across the chamber to reissue the correspondence emphasising the priority it gives to this issue and to not allow the Department to continue ignoring it.