50 jobs under threat at hospital

Fifty jobs are under threat at a private hospital in County Londonderry.

The North-West Independent Hospital said there has been a considerable downturn in work after a drop in referrals from NHS Trusts.

The hospital, in Ballykelly, said it had no alternative but to consider redundancies.

It said it would also look at reduced working hours and restructuring some of its departments.

East Londonderry MP, Gregory Campbell, said the hospital helped reduce NHS waiting lists.

"Doctors and specialists were able to refer some patients to the hospital for procedures, now I'm afraid because of the NHS funding problems, it's going to be a lose-lose situation.

"The jobs have gone or are going to go and as well we are going to see an increase in waiting times for people in NHS queues."

The North-West Independent hospital opened in 1989 and has 36 beds.

It provides both in-patient and out-patient services including cosmetic surgery, orthopaedics and urology.

In September the Belfast Health Trust said it would no longer refer patients to private clinics as part of a cost cutting drive.