LOCAL healthcare workers and hospital staff are being urged to do their “duty towards their patients” by taking part in the ongoing investigation into the impacts of the removal of emergency general surgery (EGS) from the SWAH.
As previously reported by the ‘Herald, the independent Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) is currently carrying out a review of the patient pathways associated with the suspension of SWAH EGS, and their direct and indirect impacts.
As part of this RQIA has been speaking with patients directly impacted by the EGS suspension, with plans to open that discussion up to the wider public in the coming weeks.
RQIA has also been speaking with local health staff, both at SWAH and Altngelvin and within the wider local health service, about the impact of the EGS suspension and the associated pathways.
Local campaign group Save Our Acute Services (SOAS) has been actively urging staff to come forward and take part in the review, as have other well known local figures involved with the group, including former head of surgery at the hospital, Dr Essam Ghareeb.
Mr Ghareeb said “taking part in this review is an important part of the staff’s duty towards their patients.”
“Health professionals’ duty towards their patients does not stop at the point of direct contact, but the responsibility extends to a wider scope of insuring that they are getting the proper services,” said the retired surgeon, who moved his life to Fermanagh many years ago to take up a role at the Erne.
“The demise of the NHS started when the government excluded healthcare professionals from taking their part in the process of decision making.
“It is unfortunate that there are no consultant surgeons in SWAH to expose the incredible injustice forced on Tyrone and Fermanagh people, but I’m certain that the staff remaining in surgery and other departments will protect their patients’ interests.”
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