CONSTRUCTION of the new Health and Care Centre in Lisnaskea has begun. Once operational, the new hub will support a network of 16 GPs and provide services to around 30,000 people in the Lisnaskea and surrounding East Fermanagh area. Councillor Victor Warrington stressed that the new health centre ‘is very much needed’ for the people […]
NHS pay rise proposals given tentative welcome
By Alan Rodgers STORMONT Health Minister Mike Nesbitt’s proposals on a fresh pay settlement for NHS workers have been given a guarded welcome locally. The UUP leader has offered health workers a rise in their pay which mirrors the value of increases in England. These will be implemented in two different tranches due to what Mr Nesbitt describes as ‘ongoing pressures’ […]
Lisnaskea practice shakes up patient appointment system
LISNASKEA Medical Centre has announced a positive update aimed at improving the patient experience, with changes to its appointment system starting January 6, 2025. The practice will remove its current clinical triage system in the mornings. Patients will now be able to request appointments throughout the day, though urgent appointments will still be limited. The […]
Brave mother’s emotional appeal to Fermanagh public
A BRAVE local mother has shared her family’s painful story in an emotional appeal to the Fermanagh public to stand up and fight for our local emergency services. Eileen McGovern has been a member of Save Our Acute Services (SOAS) since the campaign group was set up in response to the ‘temporary’ suspension of emergency […]
‘Long live Hospital at Home’ …a very grateful patient
A FERMANAGH patient has been singing the praises of the Hospital at Home service and the South West Acute Hospital. The Fermanagh resident fell ill at home and when their condition worsened they decided it was best to ring an ambulance. Within approximately 20 minutes the paramedic team arrived and after their initial assessment, rushed […]
Western Trust offer employment opportunity to graduates
NEWLY graduated student nurses have expressed a first preference to work at the Western Trust. The Trust welcomed the development and confirmed that the level of interest was significantly higher than in previous years. “This reflects the very positive experience, which students have highlighted during their placements within many service areas in the Trust, and is a […]
Health developments show ‘people power’ still strong
NOT for the first time, ‘people power’ has been helping protect and restore vital services in Fermanagh, with a local campaign group pointing to community pressure as the reason for two positive recent developments. Save Our Acute Services (SOAS) has welcomed two recent “good news stories” about health services in the county – the first being […]
Lisnaskea plan could save Fermanagh GP crisis
NEWS that the construction of a new state-of-the-art health centre in Lisnaskea will begin within weeks has been greeted with cautious optimism, and the hope that the grand plan could solve the deepening GP crisis in Fermanagh. The proposed centre will be the biggest health project the county has seen since the South West Acute Hospital was built in 2012. […]
Enniskillen RNLI rescue jet skiers injured on the Erne
ENNISKILLEN RNLI, the Irish Coast Guard helicopter, and the NI Ambulance Service were all involved in the rescue of two jet skiers who were injured on Lough Erne last weekend. The volunteer Enniskillen RNLI crew were called to scene by the Belfast Coastguard shortly after 6.40pm on Saturday evening, August 24, after reports two people […]
A long winter ahead for Fermanagh health service
LOCAL health campaigners have warned the patients of Fermanagh are facing “the most dramatic winter for healthcare” this year, with moves elsewhere in the health service expected to put even more pressure on our already-struggling system. Last week it was confirmed the Northern Trust had proposed moving all emergency general surgery (EGS) to one hospital, […]