Families clock up thousands of miles on road to Derry


FERMANAGH families are clocking up thousands of miles each, and are forking hundreds of pounds in the midst of a cost of living crisis, travelling to Derry with their loved ones who require treatment at Altnagelvin Hospital. For example, two local siblings told the Herald they have recently travelled well over 2,000 miles and have spent almost […]

Fermanagh patient’s fears after Altnagelvin experience


A FERMANAGH patient and family have spoken out about worrying gaps in the local health system, and their concerns for surgical patients who present to the SWAH, after his experience of having to travel to Altnagelvin for an emergency operation. Eamon McCaffrey, who is in his 80s, was speaking along with his family after recently spending almost […]

Bonnie born at SWAH on Boxing Day


THE parents of a local Boxing Day baby have said they are ‘just so happy’ to have brought their little girl into the world at the most wonderful time of year. For the majority of us, the festive season is a period more magical than most. However, when one young couple living in Kilskeery look back […]

Fears SWAH could lose acute status


CONCERN is growing that the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) could lose its ‘acute’ status, after it emerged the Western Trust is considering changing the name of the hospital. Recently released minutes from a meeting of the SWAH Strategic Development Group – which was set up by the Trust to oversee the future development of the Enniskillen hospital […]

Waits twice as long for some local patients


WITH patients currently facing long waits across the North’s health service, due to severe winter pressures, here in Fermanagh some patients are waiting twice as long as everyone else, due to the current situation at the SWAH. Since the withdrawal of emergency general surgery (EGS) from the Enniskillen hospital local patients assessed as requiring urgent surgery […]

Trust urged to listen to heartbreaking stories


A YOUNG autistic boy from Clogher was left lying on the road for over an hour in a storm after being knocked down, a meeting on the future of services at South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) has heard. The family of Jayden Dempsey (11) believe the reason he suffered in cold and in pain for […]

‘We are fed up’ – People have their say


THE PEOPLE of Fermanagh had their chance to let our local politicians know how the removal of emergency general surgery from the SWAH is impacting the community last Thursday night, and the picture they painted was grim. From injured elderly people and autistic children being left to lie in storms and freezing temperatures as the ambulance […]