The unit is part of an overall strategy to dramatically reduce the time people in Northern Ireland have to wait for fracture and orthopaedic treatment and includes 33 beds and a team of five consultants.
There are also specialist nursing teams and a full ranage of therapy and support staff at the clinic which treats local patients who previously had to travel to Belfast for fracture services.
Launching the unit, Mr McGimpsey said, "This new 33 bed unit will be an integral part of a network of fracture services across Northern Ireland and will provide the people of Craigavon and the surrounding area with a modern, responsive and a locally accessible facility.
"The increased capacity arising out of this investment will go a long way to ensuring that patients do not have to wait longer than they should for their fracture or orthopaedic treatment. I want to see, by the end of this month, 75 per cent of fracture patients being treated within 48 hours, rising to 95 per cent of patients by March 2009.
"Patients who require orthopaedic surgery should also not have to wait longer than 21 weeks for inpatient or day case treatment."
benefits
The Minister added that he was delighted to see that the first patients had already been treated in the new facility and that local patients were experiencing "the very clear benefits" of this state-of-the art facility.
"I would like to commend the Southern Trust and the contractors for their commitment in getting this service up and running so quickly," added Mr McGimpsey. "Today's announcement demonstrates my determination to put patients first and to ensure a first-class health service is available for all patients across Northern Ireland."
Colm Donaghy, chief executive of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust said, "The establishment of a trauma and orthopaedic, or fracture, service on the Craigavon site is a major milestone for people in this area.
"We have a team of five consultants, specialist nursing teams, and a full range of therapy and support staff, who will be able to treat the majority of trauma and orthopaedic patients who have previously had to travel to Belfast for this surgery. This is therefore a huge boost for local health services and for the regional network of fracture services."
The new unit includes 13 orthopaedic beds and 20 trauma beds, two dedicated laminar flow theatres units and office accommodation and is part of a £15.2million investment at Craigavon Area Hospital announced by the Minister in October last year.
next
As part of a longer-term strategy to improve access to fracture and orthopaedic services, a second unit will be provided in Antrim Area Hospital in the next few years.