STANDARDS set out by the Department of Health are preventing the return of emergency general surgery (EGS) to the SWAH, the Stormont Health Committee has heard. In 2022, in the months before the ‘temporary’ removal of EGS from the Enniskillen hospital, the Department of Health launched the Review of General Surgery in Northern Ireland. This set […]
‘Traumatic wait’ for breast cancer results
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LOCAL women are being left waiting up to nine weeks to find out if they have breast cancer – a delay described as ‘traumatic’ and ‘mentally devastating’ by one Fermanagh patient still awaiting a diagnosis after an urgent referral more than five weeks ago. Despite a new regional referral system introduced earlier this year to speed up […]
South West GP Foundation celebrates tenth anniversary
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LOCAL health professionals turned out to the Manor House Country Hotel outside Enniskillen today (Wednesday) to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the South West GP Foundation. A special celebration event was organised at the hotel, with Northern Ireland Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, delivering a keynote address to congratulate the group on its many achievements. Established […]
SWAH campaign continues unabated in Fermanagh
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THE Save Our Acute Services (SOAS) campaign group is continuing its efforts to connect with communities across the region, with more public meetings planned for October as part of its ongoing fight to protect and restore emergency general surgery (EGS) at the SWAH. With community concern still high and the future of the service uncertain, […]
Fermanagh businesses call for healthcare roundtable
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BUSINESS leaders from Fermanagh have urged the Department of Health to immediately commission a roundtable on the future of rural healthcare services. With the highly pressured winter months only weeks away, representatives from across the business sector – from SMEs to global companies in manufacturing, transport, and hospitality – are calling on Health Minister Mike […]
Fermanagh nurses set to remember Viola
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THE team at Children’s Ward at the South West Acute Hospital are set to take part in a charity fun run where they will remember the memory of their much-loved colleague and friend Viola Loane. Formerly of Tedd in Irvinestown and of Gortnagullion in Kesh, Ms Loane passed away peacefully at Omagh Hospital in January 2024, following […]
Fermanagh hospitality businesses rally behind SOAS
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IN the latest show of solidarity in the fight to save emergency general surgery (EGS) at the SWAH, local hoteliers have issued an open letter of concern to health authorities. Representatives of the Fermanagh Lakelands Hotels Association outlined the significant and direct threat the service cut poses to the local tourism and hospitality sector. They wrote, “The […]
Fermanagh church leaders back SWAH surgery campaign
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FERMANAGH church leaders have given their strong backing to the Save Our Acute Services (SOAS) campaign. At last week’s SOAS meeting at the Westville Hotel, a representative read out a joint statement from 11 Christian leaders representing 17 local churches. Pastor Andy Compton of Mullaghmeen Baptist Church in Ballinamallard spoke powerfully on behalf of Christian leaders […]
Major home care provider withdraws from Fermanagh
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A MAJOR provider of homecare services is to withdraw from the Fermanagh area, impacting hundreds of local users. The Western Trust has stressed it is working to minimise that impact. North West Care is one of three independent providers of homecare contracted by the Trust in Lisnaskea, Irvinestown and Enniskillen areas. It has been providing care in the […]
Fermanagh staff at SWAH face frequent violence
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SHOCKING new figures have revealed that more than 760 physical assaults have been carried out on staff at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) over the past five years. The statistics, released in response to a written Assembly question from local MLA Diana Armstrong, have sparked fresh concern over the safety of frontline healthcare workers […]