THE new elective surgery unit for overnight patients at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) has been blasted as a “disgraceful consolation prize”. Announced by the Western Trust, the new unit has its first patients this week in a move to help the Health Service in the North reduce waiting lists for surgical procedures. However, […]
SWAH nurses next to protest on picket lines
NURSES from the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) in Enniskillen took part in two day-long strikes for more pay in the past week. Thousands of nurses took to the picket lines at hospitals across the North last Thursday and yesterday (Tuesday). Despite the wintery conditions, nurses of all ages and levels were out in force at the SWAH throughout the two days of protests. Independent […]
Teens with mental health issues ‘cruelly’ left behind
“INEFFECTIVE, inconsistent and inadequate” are the words used by one Enniskillen mother to describe child mental health services across the Fermanagh area. The mother, who did not want to be identified told this paper that her 15-year-old child was transferred to the Western Trust’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) three years ago but […]
Fermanagh facing a childcare crisis
FERMANAGH families are struggling to find childcare and, like the whole of the North, the county could see its economy harmed if the escalating crisis is not resolved. Those were the findings of the latest Northern Ireland Childcare Survey, which revealed the struggles already facing employers in recruiting and retaining staff were being worsened by parents’ […]
GP crisis set to deepen as local doctor resigns
WITH a chronic shortage of general practitioners already causing serious difficulties in the local area, the crisis is set to deepen in the year ahead with more resignations and retirements on the horizon. The latest doctor preparing to hang up his GP coat is Dr Declan Morgan from the Dromore and Trillick Surgery, who has informed […]
Western Trust issues an appeal for staff as health pressures keep mounting
WITH the health crisis deepening, the Western Trust was forced to issue an urgent workforce appeal as a result of unfilled nursing shifts at the SWAH at the weekend. The appeal was issued by the Trust for both SWAH and Altnagelvin over three days at the weekend. When contacted by the Herald, a Trust spokesman confirmed […]
Enniskillen charity worker urges support for Trocaire
A LOCAL charity worker has urged Fermanagh folk to support Trocaire’s Christmas Appeal, as she warns that a ‘hunger pandemic’ will threaten 270 million people this Christmas. Bridie Duffy from Enniskillen, told the Herald, “The Covid-19 crisis has doubled the number of people around the world who are facing crisis levels of hunger. “Lockdowns and restrictions introduced […]
£100,000 lifeline for people affected by Covid crisis
LAKELAND Community Care has received a huge financial boost to give a ‘lifeline’ to vulnerable people most impacted by Covid-19. The health care provider has just received a £100,000 donation from Barclays 100×100 UK Covid-19 Community Relief Programme to deliver the ‘WEST Living Well Programme’. Throughout the pandemic, Lakeland Community Care has continued to provide […]