THERE is ‘grave concern’ that maternity services at the state-of-the-art South West Acute Hospital are being ‘chipped away’ in favour of Altnagelvin.
The matter has been raised by local UNISON trade union branch secretary Jill Weir, who has 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.
Jill, pictured, explained the perceived bias towards the Derry hospital.
“Even though we have a new state of the art facility in Enniskillen, the criteria for expectant mothers admitted here has changed. This means that mothers, who could have quite straightforwardly delivered in the SWAH, are now being diverted to the Altnagelvin Hospital, some 60 miles away.
“I have been informed that the change was made by the Public Health Authority(PHA) and the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) in consultation with the Western Trust. While I would not argue that the safety of the mother and baby are paramount, I would argue, supported by information supplied confidentially, that there would seem to be a bias towards Altnagelvin, sending expectant mothers on a long journey, when the staff in the SWAH are more than capable, qualified and experienced to care for these mothers and their new born babies.”
The Unison secretary drew comparisons with the current plight in Enniskillen to that of the Tyrone County Hospital in Omagh, who lost it’s maternity over 10 years ago.
“When Tyrone lost its Maternity Unit, one factor was because birth rates had fallen below a certain level, leaving it unsustainable.
“I would hope that this is not a deliberate attempt by the Trust to ensure the sustainability of their ‘main site’ to the detriment of what they consider their ‘feeder’ site i.e. ensuring that the birth rate in Altnagelvin remains high by deliberately manipulating the criteria to their advantage.”
Additionally 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.
“This change will have a major impact on new mothers, the long journey away and maybe be faced with the prospect of having to leave their infant baby many miles away from their home.
This also has the domino effect on other services within the SWAH.
“It could have an impact on Paediatric services, neo natal care being an important part of teaching for our junior doctors and in turn could also impact on anaesthetic cover etc.
“This is a steady chipping away at the services in our local hospital.”
Local UUP councillor Raymond Farrell shared UNISON’s concerns.
“The importance of a comprehensive range of maternity services at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen is fundamental to a fully sustainable hospital in the western area.
“The people demand and see it as a fundamental right to ensure such services are maintained and developed in the area.
“Such was the concern as to the future of maternity services some 20 years ago that an action committee was formed and successfully fought to ensure that maternity services were maintained in Enniskillen. I was a part of that fight then and I know the depth of feeling there was and indeed still is on this sensitive matter.”
In response 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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