A long winter ahead for Fermanagh health service


LOCAL health campaigners have warned the patients of Fermanagh are facing “the most dramatic winter for healthcare” this year, with moves elsewhere in the health service expected to put even more pressure on our already-struggling system. Last week it was confirmed the Northern Trust had proposed moving all emergency general surgery (EGS) to one hospital, […]


Patient empathy as horror stories continue to emerge


LAST week the ‘Herald shared yet another story of a local patient’s horrific experience of having to travel from Fermanagh to Derry for emergency general surgery (EGS), just as this paper has been reporting for almost two years now since the suspension of EGS at the SWAH. As happens often, this story prompted significant empathy among […]


‘Shocking’ rise in people seeking illegal botox


A LEADING Fermanagh aesthetics clinician feels that ‘endorsements and viable results of celebrities’ are leading to an increasing rise in people seeking legal and illegal botox treatments in Ireland. Significant concerns have been raised in the Republic of Ireland by the Irish Association of Plastic Surgeons after they discovered an surging rise in residents seeking illegal botox […]


This is your ‘last best chance’ to save SWAH services


LOCAL patients and health staff have been told to “speak now or forever hold your peace” on the future of the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) emergency surgery. A large crowd gathered at Fermanagh House on Thursday night for a meeting, organised by Save Our Acute Services (SOAS) to explain to people how to contribute to […]


Staff urged to take opportunity to stand up for SWAH


LOCAL healthcare workers and hospital staff are being urged to do their “duty towards their patients” by taking part in the ongoing investigation into the impacts of the removal of emergency general surgery (EGS) from the SWAH. As previously reported by the ‘Herald, the independent Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) is currently carrying out a review […]


Fr Gary Donegan set to undergo second surgery today


FERMANAGH cleric Fr Gary Donegan is set to undergo surgery today (Wednesday) after he suffered ‘another bleed’ in his eye. In December, the Newtownbutler priest revealed that he had to have an operation to restore the sight in his right eye after losing his vision a few weeks ago when a bleed to it caused extensive damage. […]