NURSES may take industrial action in the coming weeks over staffing levels and pay. There are currently around 3,000 vacancies across the North, including hundreds in the Western Trust area, with shortages placing extra pressures on staff to patient ratio. There are fears that strike action could have a devastating effect on the local health […]
Health body is accused of stripping local services
Many local cataract patients have had their surgeries moved to Magherafelt in recent times.
Local families celebrate cystic fibrosis ‘wonder drug’
A life-changing cystic fibrosis drug has been made available here in the North has been widely welcomed by local parents. Declared as a “wonder drug” which can help extend and improve the lives of children living with the condition, Orkambi has not been available on the NHS as it was deemed too expensive. Following negotiations […]
£20M HOLE IN BUDGET BAD NEWS FOR SWAH
THERE are fresh fears for the future of services at SWAH after it was revealed the Western Trust has to find £20 million in savings by early next year. Once again the people of Fermanagh are gearing up for a battle against health cuts after it emerged the Western Trust has been told it urgently […]
Rural doctors ‘will not benefit from £27m extra health
GP SERVICES are set to benefit from a £26.76 million investment but there are doubts over whether Fermanagh will benefit from the funding. Recently, the Department of Health announced the investment of £26.76 million which has been earmarked for investment in GP premises, elective care services and investment in advanced nurse practitioners. At a time […]
SWAH may lose day surgeries to specialist centres
PLANS are currently in motion that could see a swathe of different day surgeries taken out of SWAH, resulting in local patients having to travel to specialist centres instead. Already many Fermanagh patients have had their cataract surgeries moved to Magherafelt as part of the Department of Health’s Elective Care Plan. Similarly, all varicose vein […]
Fermanagh patient’s disgust as waiting list grows
A LOCAL patient who has been waiting years for treatment has hit out at both the health service and our politicians for failing the people of Fermanagh. David Mace, who lives outside Enniskillen is in the middle of two eye surgeries. He had been told he would have to wait six weeks between the cataract […]
Last push for public to have say before stroke deadline
FERMANAGH Stroke Support Group are out and about around the county ahead of the final stroke consultation deadline. After years of passionate local campaigning to keep the ward five open, this is the last chance for Fermanagh people to submit their views to have their say in the fight to keep the stroke unit. Earlier […]
Deadline for consultations on stroke unit extended
THE consultation which could close the stroke unit at South West Acute Hospital has been extended for the third time. The deadline for the consultation on ‘reshaping stroke care’ has now been moved from August 2nd until August 30th. The consultation, which is being carried out by the Department of Health includes six options on […]
‘Half an hour extra and I might not have made it…’
AS LOCAL people gear up for tonight’s second public meeting on the future of the stroke unit at SWAH, one stroke survivor has spoken out about the care he received at the hospital after suffering a stroke at a football match. Hundreds of people are expected to attend the meeting in the Killyhevlin Hotel tonight […]