On Thursday evening, a poorly attended public meeting was held in Fermanagh House, Enniskillen to discuss the ‘future of health and social care services’ in Fermanagh. 

During the meeting, it is believed that a member of the public suggested consultants could come down from Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry to carry out clinics for fractures, pain and neurology at South West Acute Hospital. 

It is claimed that a senior member of Western Trust staff, replied inappropriately to the individual saying that he was ‘talking s**t.’

Western Trust deputy chief executive, Kieran Downey, who is the lead figure for the Pathfinder initiative recorded a video and posted it on Facebook addressing the issue saying, “Unfortunately at our last engagement event in the Fermanagh House, a staff member of the Western Trust reacted inappropriately to a direct personal insult made about their professional integrity.  I apologise for any offence taken from the comment and I can assure you that it will not happen again. I encourage everyone to come and engage with us. 

“Our full details of the planned engagements are available on our online hub or by contacting Pathfinder directly.”

Donal O’Cofaigh from Fermanagh Save our Services attended the meeting and disputes the Trust’s version of the incident, and explained the meeting had been recorded. 

“The idea that an official swore at a member of the public during a public meeting is inappropriate and casts a bad light on the entire process. It is disappointing. There are a lot of people in the county concerned about the process, and we want services to be retained here.”

The meeting comes during a series of public engagement events as part of the Pathfinder initiative which is looking at the Health and Social Care services across Fermanagh and West Tyrone.

So far the Western Trust has carried out 37 engagement events with over 600 people, with a further 24 planned for the month of February.