Fermanagh patients ‘held to ransom’ over ambulances

LOCAL health campaigners have questioned whether Fermanagh patients are “being held to ransom” over delays in providing an additional ambulance to the local area.
As reported earlier this month by the ‘Herald, it has been estimated a much-needed extra ambulance in the local area would cost in the region of £2 million per year.
However, the Department of Health will only release the funds to pay for this ambulance if the ‘temporary’ removal of emergency general surgery (EGS) from the SWAH is made permanent.
The shocking revelation was made at the recent Save Our Acute Services (SOAS) meeting at Fermanagh House on the future of SWAH EGS, by Jimmy Hamill, who was referring to comments made Western Trust chief executive Neil Guckian at the February meeting of the Trust board.
Now SOAS has questioned whether that situation is resulting in the “people of Fermanagh and Tyrone being held to ransom over the delay.” The campaign called on Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to urgently intervene.
Since the removal of EGS from the Enniskillen hospital more than two years ago, the NI Ambulance Service has seen a surge in local demand, due to the rise in patients needing transferred from SWAH to Altnagelvin.
The review into the removal of SWAH EGS by the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) earlier this year also stressed the urgent need to increase ambulance cover in the area to meet the surge in demand.
SOAS spokesman Donal O’Cofaigh said it was “a matter of huge concern.”
“Any move to make permanent the withdrawal of life-saving emergency surgery from the south west would set in stone our community’s second-class status,” he said.
“It would also cut across the commitment made by public representatives of all five main political parties that they seek the restoration of emergency surgery at the SWAH.”
Mr O’Cofaigh added, “People are asking whether our community is now being held to ransom.
“We are told the money for ambulances to safely transport patients to Altnagelvin is to be withheld until the decision is made permanent.
“SOAS is calling on Minister Nesbitt to intervene to ensure patient safety now in Fermanagh and Tyrone.
“That means implementing the RQIA recommendations as well as committing his Department to work towards the full and sustainable restoration of emergency general surgery at SWAH.”