FERMANAGH health care workers have been told they “should not have to take strike action” after they were informed that any future pay deals will not match those of their counterparts in the UK. Local employees were left furious after the Northern Ireland Department for Health said they are financially unable to implement the recommended […]
Nurses consider emigrating due to recruitment freeze
DESPITE the ongoing staffing crisis in our hospitals, newly qualified nurses from the local area are being forced to emigrate or take non-medical jobs as a result of an apparent recruitment freeze in the health service. A Fermanagh mother has spoken to the ‘Herald about the worry and stress her daughter and friends are facing due to the fact […]
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 […]
Staff urged to take opportunity to stand up for SWAH
LOCAL healthcare workers and hospital staff are being urged to do their “duty towards their patients” by taking part in the ongoing investigation into the impacts of the removal of emergency general surgery (EGS) from the SWAH. As previously reported by the ‘Herald, the independent Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) is currently carrying out a review […]
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, […]
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 […]
Every GP practice at risk of collapsing
EVERY GP practice in Fermanagh is currently “vulnerable to a possible collapse”, with the dire situation facing local general practice only set to worsen in the months ahead. That is the stark message from Dr Paul Bradley, chairman of the South West GP Federation which represents doctors in the Fermanagh and Omagh area, who has warned urgent “action is needed now to […]
Patients form new committee at ‘Maple’
A NUMBER of patients who are registered at Maple Healthcare in Lisnaskea have now formed a new ‘Health Committee’ in order to tackle ongoing concerns that locals have with the practice. A second meeting was held with local councillors and members of the public to discuss what could be done to rectify the situation of […]
Cross-border health scheme reinstated
THE CROSS-border health scheme, which has benefited many in Fermanagh but had fallen victim to Brexit, has been reinstated by the Executive in a bid to tackle ever-growing waiting lists. As reported in the Herald earlier this year, the EU directive on cross-border health, which saw many local patients travel south for hip replacements and […]
Trust pinpoints its ‘over-arching demands’ after Covid
PRIORITIES: The Chief Executive of the Western Health and Social Care Trust, Dr Anne Kilgallen, has told a recent media briefing entitled “Rebuild” the three over-arching demands for the Trust following the pandemic. Dr Kilgallen listed equity of treatment, providing access to the most urgent services and reducing the rate of transmission as the Trust’s […]