COUNCIL candidates have come out in force against possible reductions to the maternity service at the South West Acute Hospital.
Their comments come following an article in last week’s Fermanagh Herald, where it was reported that fears were mounting that maternity services were being ‘chipped away’ in favour of Altnagelvin in Derry.
The matter was raised by local UNISON trade union branch secretary Jill Weir, who called on the Western Trust to alleviate the concerns of staff and give assurances that the consultant led maternity services in the Enniskillen hospital are not in any jeopardy.
Neo-natal services in SWAH have also been affected according to UNISON, with criteria changing from 30 weeks to 34 weeks gestation meaning that even an expectant mother who is 33 weeks and 5 days in labour, will be transferred to Altnagelvin. There are fears that this is the beginning.
Current Enniskillen Sinn Fein Councillor, and candidate in this week’s election, Debbie Coyle, said that she hoped that ‘some sort of accounting exercise’ was not ‘taking precedence over the wellbeing of mothers and their children’.
“It seems to me to be bizarre that despite the need being more than capable of being serviced at our local hospital that the trust have taken this decision for mothers with a high BMI or who have diabetes.
“This decision makes no sense for expectant mothers, their children or the wider community. There is no reason they cannot give birth in Enniskillen, much closer to their place of home and the support of the family circle.
“We were promised a first class service at the finest hospital in Europe and this decision does not seem to chime with that agenda in any way shape or form.”
And, Alliance candidate for Enniskillen, Ann Gormley, described her own ‘dismay’ at the ‘threat’.
“You don’t have to be a medical expert to know that the safest place to deliver a pre-term baby is in an acute hospital not inside an ambulance or at the road-side.
“It seems obvious that the decision makers never actually look at a map of Northern Ireland when implementing new criteria for high-risk pregnancies.
“The road network between rural areas to access SWAH and then to transfer to Altnagelvin is already a nightmare for even a mildly sick patient whether in a car or ambulance.”
In response to the revelations last week, a spokesman for the Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) said: “The Western Trust is committed to the development of maternity services at the South West Acute Hospital.
“The delivery of safe maternity services is paramount and a key part of the Hospital’s overall portfolio of services.
“The Western Trust is committed to the future development of maternity services in line with the Regional Maternity Strategy and will be working closely with the service Commissioners – the Health and Social Care Board and the Public Health Agency – to continue to develop maternity services.”
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