South West Acute Hospital: Crowds hand-in-hand in protest at services being cut

  • UTV
  • Health

Up to 600 people held hands and formed a ring of support around the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) in Enniskillen on Saturday (November 26). 

Crowds stood together hand-in-hand in protest at services being cut at the Fermanagh site by the Western Health and Social Care Trust. 

Emergency surgery is being pulled temporarily from SWAH next month because the Trust says it cannot recruit enough surgeons. 

Dylan Quinn, who organised Saturday's event, told UTV it's about "supporting staff but also challenging the Trust to make sure they act for the best needs of the community. It's not too late". 

A number of protests are expected to take place over the next few weeks.

In a statement last week, the Health Department said it "fully recognises the importance of SWAH to the people of Fermanagh and Tyrone and to Northern Ireland’s hospital network".

It added: "The first duty of any health system is to provide safe care and the Department is satisfied that the Western Trust’s decision to temporarily suspend the service has been taken on public safety grounds, due to a lack of consultant general surgeons.

"The mitigations put in place by the trust will be closely monitored by the department, including the transport arrangements for patients requiring treatment in other hospitals."

The statement said that the future of emergency general surgery at South West Acute Hospital will now be the subject of a public consultation. 

"Any permanent decision to cease emergency general surgery will require approval from the department and health minister," it continued.

"The department can reassure the local population on SWAH’s future. It is a vital part of our hospital network and will very much remain so.

"We can confirm that the department is working with the trust to make the hospital Northern Ireland’s third elective overnight stay centre, following earlier announcements on the Mater Hospital in Belfast and Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry.

"This will help the local population to receive better and quicker planned surgical care, and also help the whole region. It is expected to increase the number of operations and patients at SWAH."

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.