The Fermanagh Hospital Steering
group is holding a series of key
meetings in the coming weeks with
senior civil servants from the
Department of Health as well as
representatives from the Western
Health and Social Services Board. In addition, a review meeting is to be held next week at which
consultants Colin Stutt and Peter Quinn will present and discuss
the case for siting the new acute hospital for the south west in
Enniskillen. The consultants have been carrying out additional
work and research for the steering group. Their work will
address all the relevant issues raised by the Department within
the consultative paper “Developing Better Services”. Comments
must be forwarded by the end of October.
On September 10, the Hospital Steering Group will have the
opportunity to meet with Mr. Paul Simpson, Deputy Secretary and
Mr. David Finnegan, Assistant Secretary for the Department of
Health, Social Services and Public Safety. They will be
accompanied by Dr. Miriam McCarthy, Senior Medical Officer.
The opportunity will be taken for steering group members and
Councillors to put the case for the speedy implementation of the
Hayes recommendations. They will argue that Enniskillen is the
only accessible, sustainable and equitable solution to the
provision of acute services for the south west. The Departmental
representatives will also update the Hospital Steering group
members at that meeting.
A meeting with the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Western
Health and Social Services Board on September 16 will provide
a forum to discuss the development of proposals for service
profiles for the enhanced hospital. This will also provide an
opportunity for local councillors to air their views.
The Hospital Steering group has restated the importance for
local communities, either individually or through community
leaders, to write to the Minister expressing support for having the
new acute hospital for the south west located in Enniskillen.
“The need for access to an acute hospital within the golden hour
is critical for the provision of first class acute health service and
personal experience to reinforce the importance of accessibility
should be highlighted. The Hospital Steering group has written
to over 1,100 individuals and community representatives asking
that they take time to reinforce the importance of this point,” said
Councillor Fergus McQuillan. Chairman of both the Council and
the steering group.
“The District Council and the Hospital Steering group will
continue to work in partnership to ensure the implementation of
the recommendations of the Hayes Report. However, the
continuing commitment and support of the local community in
the campaign is crucial to highlight the critical importance to the
community of acute hospital services provision in Enniskillen,”
he said.
