The withdrawal of emergency general surgery at South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) has sparked mounting concern among local residents, many of whom fear the long-term impact on timely and effective care. One local family has now shared their firsthand experience, offering insight into the reality faced by patients following the controversial change. Laura Pickett, who […]
MP Cullen writes to Health Minister for meeting on SWAH
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THE MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, and former head of the Royal College of Nursing, has written to the Health Minister to request an urgent meeting on the SWAH. Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt, recently urged the Western Trust to ‘pause’ and ‘reconsider’ their consultation process on the permanent withdrawal of emergency surgery from the […]
Consultation launched on future of EGS at SWAH
THE WESTERN Trust has officially launched the consultation on the permanent removal of emergency general surgery (EGS) from the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH). The Trust announced a public consultation on the proposal to accommodate all EGS services at Altnagelvin Hospital, at its July board meeting last Thursday, with it going live today (Tuesday). The […]
Fermanagh health campaigners ‘ready to mobilise’
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FERMANAGH residents are bracing for the next stage in the battle to save SWAH emergency surgery, with the Western Trust preparing to begin the process of making its temporary removal permanent. Having been suspended in late 2022, this week the Western Trust board will decide on whether to open a consultation on the permanent removal of emergency general […]
Fermanagh campaign group calls for urgent GP action
WITH the ongoing GP crisis in Fermanagh, and to a lesser extent across the North, expected to deepen in the months ahead, local campaigners have urged the Health Minister to provide urgent funding to prevent the collapse of yet more practices. Last week, chair of the British Medical Association, Dr Frances O’Hagan, warned the funding […]
Positive SWAH inspection report welcomed
A RECENT surprise inspection of the critical care unit (CCU) at the SWAH found no formal areas for improvement. The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority’s (RQIA) carried out the unannounced inspection at the Enniskillen hospital in March this year. The inspection focused on five key themes – infection prevention control and environmental safety; procedure for obtaining […]
New digital system rolled out at Fermanagh hospital
THE Western Trust has hailed the launch of its new digital health care record system as “a huge moment” after the ‘Go-Live with encompass’ scheme was rolled out to the SWAH today (Thursday). This means that for the first time all HSC Trusts across Northern Ireland are now integrated into one digital system, signifying a […]
Huge turnout for meeting on Fermanagh hospital
OVER 150 turned out to the Fermanagh House in Enniskillen last night (Thursday) for a meeting on the future of the South West Acute Hospital, organised by a local campaign group. In the event, which was organised by campaign group Save Our Acute Services and chaired by North West News Group and WeAreTyrone journalist Alan […]
Meeting on SWAH at Fermanagh House tonight
THE local community is being urged to come out in strong numbers to Fermanagh House tonight (Thursday, May 1) for a public meeting on the future of the SWAH. The meeting, which begins at 8pm, has been organised by Save Our Acute Services (SOAS) and will focus on the campaign group’s roadmap to restored emergency […]
Fears for GP services in Fermanagh
THERE are fears for the future of many local GP practices after funding talks between the BMA (British Medical Association) and the Department of Health broke down. The BMA, which serves as a trade union for GPs, had been in contract negotiations with the Stormont government regarding the level of support provided to practices. However […]