Vaccine news ‘more than we dared hope for’says local GP


A FERMANAGH GP has said the recent announcements on potential Covid vaccines are “an absolute game changer” that could very likely herald the beginning of the end of the global pandemic.  Dr Brendan O’Hare, who is the GP in Ederney and runs the Western Rural Healthcare group of practices, was speaking to the Herald earlier […]


Covid numbers shoot up again


AFTER WEEKS of falling dramatically, by up to 30 percent at a time, the number of Covid cases in Fermanagh has shot up again this week.  In fact, the south of the county now has the third highest rate of infection in the North.  There have been 241 positive cases in the Fermanagh and Omagh […]


Learn to live with virus


A FERMANAGH doctor has said he fears Covid lockdowns are doing more harm than good in the community, and has urged the powers-that-be not to impose heavy restrictions at Christmas. Dr Brendan O’Hare, who lost his 89-year-old father to the virus just weeks ago, told the Herald he is “becoming increasingly concerned about the unintended […]


SWAH at full capacity as winter pressures hit hard


THE SOUTH West Acute Hospital is currently operating at full capacity, with patients currently having to wait to be admitted, however only a small percentage of its inpatients are being treated for Covid.  At the time of gong to print on Tuesday there were currently 20 Covid patients at SWAH, none of whom were being […]


Little hope  of rules for labour wards being lifted


HOPES for an intervention from Robin Swann to lift Covid restrictions on labour wards has been deemed “unlikely” as leading midwife union warns that rules must continue to keep “mothers and babies safe.” The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) issued a plea to those calling for a blanket reopening of services to recognise the infection […]


Covid is linked to decline in local crossborder trade


TRAFFIC on some of Fermanagh’s border roads has fallen by over 40 percent since the current round of Covid restrictions came into force.  With tighter restrictions on both sides of the border, traffic counters in Donegal have revealed a dramatic drop of thousands of vehicles using roads along the border since the Level Five lockdown […]


Covid-19 restrictions take heavy toll on expectant mums


WOMEN across Fermanagh have called for Covid restrictions on maternity services to be changed in order to allow partners  into wards during early labour and after birth.   In a heartbreaking appeal, a number of Lisnaskea mothers-to-be told the Herald how current restrictions  has had a  “devastating impact” on their mental health.  At the moment, Trust […]