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, […]
Maguiresbridge woman’s GP services rant goes viral
Aravon McCann has spoken out about her family’s struggle to get treatment for their elderly mother in Lisnaskea.
This is your ‘last best chance’ to save SWAH services
LOCAL patients and health staff have been told to “speak now or forever hold your peace” on the future of the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) emergency surgery. A large crowd gathered at Fermanagh House on Thursday night for a meeting, organised by Save Our Acute Services (SOAS) to explain to people how to contribute to […]
Fermanagh Parkinson’s patient left to suffer alone
A LOCAL pensioner has revealed the heartbreaking impact staff shortages and service cuts are having on older patients here in Fermanagh. The Western Trust has apologised this week, via the Herald, to local patients after it emerged the Parkinson’s Clinics at the SWAH were currently not operating. Stating this was due to capacity exceeding demand, coupled […]
High risk of no GP cover in Fermanagh
AS the GP crisis persists across the local area, patients at a number of rural practices can expect further disruption in the weeks ahead. Over recent years the Western Trust has taken over a number of local practices after the GPs handed back their contracts, including in Brookeborough and Tempo, and Trillick and Dromore. The […]
Fermanagh GPs are ‘working harder than ever’
AS THE crisis in our local health service seems to worsen by the week, not least in general practice, a local surgery receptionist has spoken out to the ‘Herald to stress how our local doctors are working harder than ever. In recent years, with a new phone-triage system now in place, Fermanagh patients have been […]
Call for urgent meeting on GP crisis
THE LOCAL Council is to seek a special meeting with the Department of Health’s Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG) in relation to the growing crisis in unfilled GP rotas in the local area. The councillors made the call after it emerged that the Dromore, Trillick and Fintona areas had no GP cover on Friday May 3, […]
Lisnaskea patients have increased seven fold
THE NUMBER of patients on the books at the Lisnaskea GP surgery has increased seven fold in the past decade, new figures have shown. According to the data released last week by the Department of Health’s Business Services Organisation (BSO), the number of patients registered with a GP at Maple Group Practice in the town has jumped from just […]
Staff shortages’ hit GP services in Fermanagh
FEARS have grown for GP services in Enniskillen after a voice message left residents worried that they will not be seen by doctors. The voice message on Lakeside Medical Practice at the Erne Health Centre in Enniskillen explained that ‘staff shortages’ would now affect ‘routine appointments’ there. “If you have a genuine medical emergency such as chest pain, stroke […]
More junior doctors’ strike action in Fermanagh
FURTHER disruption to health services will be experienced in Fermanagh this week, due to the latest strike action being taken by junior doctors. This will run to 7am on Saturday. This follows two 48-hour walkouts last month from May 22-24. Patients are advised to expect widespread disruption to normal services. Health and Social Care Trust websites will […]