STUDENTS at Erne Integrated College in Enniskillen welcomed a special visitor last week, with NI Commissioner for Children and Young People stopping by the school. The Commissioner, Chris Quinn, visited the Erne Integrated last Monday, February 26, giving pupils the chance to ask questions and raise issues which are particular to a school in a […]
Fermanagh outraged at ‘cultural issue’ comment
FERMANAGH patients are more than willing to travel for elective treatment, they are simply requesting equal access to timely treatment when it comes to emergency care. That’s the message from Save Our Acute Services (SOAS) following local anger at comments made in a report to the Department of Health which stated there was “a cultural issue” […]
O’Dowd outlines new measures to cut MOT waiting times
INFRASTRUCTURE Minister John O’Dowd has outlined several measures to tackle MOT waiting lists across the North. Speaking in the Assembly on Monday, Mr O’Dowd said more than 50 newly recruited examiners would start working in test centres from June. “The DVA currently has 55 MOT examiner vacancies across its network of test centres,” the minister told MLAs. “It […]
SOS campaign bids to help save BT jobs
THE Communication Workers Union (CWU) has launched a Save Our Site (SOS) campaign to save the 300 jobs at the EE (formally BT) site in Enniskillen. As part of the campaign, the CWU Region along with the CWU NI Telecoms Branch (NITB) held a public meeting on Monday night at the Westville Hotel. Hundreds of people turned out […]
Making sure every voice is counted
FOLLOWING the deep disappointment when over 30,000 Fermanagh voices were recorded as one consultation response by the Western Trust, Save Our Acute Services (SOAS) was determined to make sure every voice is counted this time around. Early last year SOAS embarked on a passionate campaign to engage the people of Fermanagh with the Trust’s consultation on the removal of […]
Cracks found on 16 lifts at MOT centres
HAIRLINE cracks have been found in 16 vehicle test, or MOT, lifts in the North, DUP MLA Deborah Erskine has said. The Fermanagh and South Tyrone DUP MLA and new Chair of the Infrastructure Committee said the cracks had been found in MOT testing lifts a few weeks ago. She said a similar issue in […]
‘We need to look to the future’ – Fr Brian D’Arcy
SECURING a bariatric surgery hub at the SWAH would be a “building block” to help sustain wider services into the future, officials from the Department of Health have been told. Among those to address the officials who took time out to meet with SOAS volunteers on Thursday, when the group travelled to Stormont to deliver […]
Adrian Dunbar teases the return of ‘Line of Duty’
Enniskillen actor Adrian Dunbar has teased fans that a new series of BBC One thriller ‘Line of Duty’ could be on the way by saying that the cast and crew are ‘eager for it to come back’. The 65-year-old rose to fame following his starring role as Superintendent Ted Hastings in the BBC programme. After […]
Junior doctors take to the picket lines
JUNIOR doctors in Fermanagh and across the North have begun their first ever strike action, taking to the picket lines this morning (Wednesday) as part of an ongoing dispute over pay and conditions. Anyone with a hospital appointment today is likely to have it rescheduled, with “significant disruption to hospital services” expected as a result of the industrial action, which […]
Heartbreak after father denied access to his child
A HEARTBROKEN mother and grandmother, whose son is being prevented from having any contact with his child, has spoken out on the profound impact parental isolation is having on their family. The local woman has issued an emotional appeal to social services, and the family of her grandchild, to understand the damaging affects of keeping her […]