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 […]

Life on hold for Fermanagh patient in pain ‘24/7’


A FERMANAGH woman who has been suffering in constant pain without treatment for almost two years has spoken of how she has been left unable to live her life. Caroline Diver from Enniskillen is one of many local patients left in the lurch by the reduction in local osteoporosis services. More than a year-and-a-half after first being diagnosed with the […]

Fermanagh group SOAS writes to Health Minister


FERMANAGH-based health campaign group, Save Our Acute Services has written directly to the new Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to highlight concerns over the rollout of a review into the impact arising from the removal of emergency general surgery from South West Acute Hospital in December 2022. The group last week welcomed the broad terms of […]

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 […]

Fermanagh pharmacies are feeling the pinch


A PHARMACIST who owns chemist shops in Fermanagh has said they’re ‘living day-to-day’ as the pressure mounts on community pharmacies throughout the North. It’s been widely reported that community pharmacies are coming under increasing strain, with almost 12 chemists closing their doors to the public over the past 18 months. The Department for Health recently […]