LOCAL politicians and union leaders have voiced their disappointment after the Health Minister confirmed that social care workers will not receive a real living wage uplift, despite pay parity being extended to doctors, nurses and auxiliary staff. Mike Nesbitt said last week that health service employees will be brought into line with colleagues across the […]
SWAH staff 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 […]
Fermanagh business announces family-friendly policies
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ENCIRC in Derrylin has announced major enhancements to its family-friendly policies, reinforcing its commitment to a values-led workplace that supports employees both professionally and personally. Among the key updates is enhanced parental leave, with qualifying periods for enhanced maternity and paternity pay reduced from two years to one. Maternity and adoption leave now offer 39 […]
Fears over future of Castle Barracks grows
COUNCIL staff based at the Castle Barracks in Enniskillen are being relocated as fears grow over the future and sustainability of one of Fermanagh’s historic buildings, the ‘Herald can reveal. It’s understood employees with the Roads’ Service are set to move to the Killyhevlin Industrial Estate, while the ‘Blue Badge’ department will be relocated to […]
‘It’s an honour to be able to look after their child’
A LEADING Community Children’s Nurse at the South West Acute Hospital said they have a “passion for working” with people locally as healthcare staff suffers unprecedented pressures. While doctors and nurses are struggling to cope with the overwhelming number of in-patients seeking help in hospitals, many healthcare workers are putting themselves at risk on the […]
MP blames Tory austerity for pay dispute
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 […]
Fermanagh principal fears for future of local education
A LOCAL principal has warned that the challenges facing the education sector in the North “are still very real” after a worrying number of young teachers are reportedly emigrating to find work. The Ulster Teachers’ Union revealed that an estimated 80 per cent of graduates from St Mary’s Teacher Training College and Stranmillis College have […]
GP cover at all-time low in Fermanagh
DOCTOR shortages are continuing to devastate the Fermanagh community as local rural surgeries fight to survive. With the crisis spreading across the county, the latest to be hit is Brookeborough and Tempo surgery where the Herald learned there is regularly not enough GP cover. One reader told how she has not been able to see a […]
Enniskillen employees honoured in style
THREE employees at Asda have been celebrated for their longevity and commitment after they clocked up a staggering 90-years of service to the supermarket giant. A major celebration event, titled ‘Big Anniversary’, was recently held to honour some of the longest serving workers at the eight different Asda stores across the North. Asda Enniskillen employee, […]
Exodus of Fermanagh health workers moving south
THE local health service is hemorrhaging experienced professional staff, who are hopping across the border where they are getting “significantly” better pay for doing the same jobs. The Western Trust has warned of a “challenging” situation in retaining Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) in the local service, with over 40 staff leaving the area to go south over the […]