THE same week that one iconic building in Enniskillen was going up in smoke, plans for redeveloping another one were being unveiled. While firefighters were still putting out the blaze at the historic Railway Hotel, across the street at the former South West College site at Gaol Square, a public consultation was showing residents what was planned for […]
Trainee doctors join Fermanagh SWAH team
THE SOUTH West Acute Hospital has last week welcomed a new cohort of trainee doctors, some of whom have travelled from overseas to work at the Enniskillen hospital. The SWAH group is part of an overall intake of 270 doctors across the Western Trust, with the junior doctors joining medical and surgical teams across the wider area, […]
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 […]
High risk of no GP cover in Fermanagh
AS the GP crisis persists across the local area, patients at a number of rural practices can expect further disruption in the weeks ahead. Over recent years the Western Trust has taken over a number of local practices after the GPs handed back their contracts, including in Brookeborough and Tempo, and Trillick and Dromore. The […]
Life on hold for Fermanagh patient in pain ‘24/7’
A FERMANAGH woman who has been suffering in constant pain without treatment for almost two years has spoken of how she has been left unable to live her life. Caroline Diver from Enniskillen is one of many local patients left in the lurch by the reduction in local osteoporosis services. More than a year-and-a-half after first being diagnosed with the […]
Top award for Fermanagh lecturer Jimmy Martin
A LONG-SERVING lecturer at the South West College has been praised for his ‘commendable’ commitment and dedication to the local construction industry. Jimmy Martin, a hugely respected Carpentry and Joinery lecturer at the South West College, picked up the prestigious Hugh Gettinby Best Trainer/Lecturer Award at the SkillBuild NI Regional Competition. John Moss, Head of Department […]
Fighting for rights was ‘my life’, says Benny Cassidy
AFTER almost 40 years of campaigning for better rights for healthcare staff and patrolling the corridors of Enniskillen’s hospitals, Benny Cassidy has parked up his wheelchair for the final time. Since 1985, the much-loved Enniskillen man has been a constant at Fermanagh’s hospitals, first at the Old County Hospital, then at the Erne Hospital, and most […]
Fermanagh doctor makes history
AN ENNISKILLEN doctor has made history at the South West Acute Hospital for her use of modern technology which is helping provide ‘first-class medical education’ to young students. A Foundation Year 1 doctor at the South West Acute Hospital, Dr Grace Kettyle, recently teamed up with other doctors from Canada and around Europe. They were […]
Review offers hope for Fermanagh hospital services
A REGULATION and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) review has offered campaigners hope that sense will prevail and the Department of Health will bring forward plans to restore emergency general surgery at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH). Local hospital campaign group, Save Our Acute Services (SOAS), has welcomed this week’s announcement by the RQIA that it has been commissioned by the […]
Average wait ‘over 40 hours’ for bed at Altnagelvin
THE Save Our Acute Services (SOAS) group has claimed it takes an average time of ‘over 40 hours’ for emergency surgical patients to get a bed in the Altnagelvin Hospital. As part of a large submission made by SOAS to the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA), the campaign highlighted how patients from SWAH are being forced […]