The Western Health and Social Care Trust has said it has “no plans to close the Stroke Unit in the South West Acute Hospital.”

Their statement comes after a press release from Fermanagh South Tyrone MP Tom Elliott warned of “widespread and furious opposition to any proposal to close the Stroke Unit at the South West Acute Hospital.”
The MP visited the hospital to meet senior union representatives from Unison and the Royal College of Nursing. 

Local health sources understand that senior health officials are going to recommend that each health trust within Northern Ireland should only have one stroke unit.

At present, Altnagelvin and SWAH have acute stroke units and stroke rehabilitation units. In addition, there is a stroke rehabilitation unit in the Tyrone County Hospital.

Mr. Elliott stated: “When I visited the Stroke Unit and Emergency Department, I was very impressed by the organisation of the units and the superb staff which provide an excellent level of care. Any closure of the stroke Unit at the South West Acute Hospital would be catastrophic for the people of the Western Trust area.”

He said it would be “virtually impossible” for a single unit to cover such a vast area stretching from Limavady to Belcoo.
Mr. Elliott added: “I am still unaware which unit the Western Trust may plan to shut down. In the event of a closure of the stroke unit at the South West Acute Hospital, the hospital could lose the services of several medical professionals.”

He also wrote to the RQIA, the Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Board and the Public Health Agency seeking clarity on the issue.

In response, a spokesman from the Western Trust said: “The Western Trust has no plans to close the Stroke Unit in the South West Acute Hospital. The Stroke Unit provides excellent care and treatment services to the local population and also performs highly in the treatment of acute stroke.”
He added: “The Trust is aware that a regional review of stroke services has been undertaken by the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority and is working closely with the Health and Social Care Board and Public Health Agency on the recommendations.”

That review took place in 2014 and made 22 recommendations for all Trusts to improve the quality of stroke services across Northern Ireland. Those recommendations included agreement on a defined model for discharge planning; a regional approach to communicating with patients regarding their condition, treatment and support needs; better engagement and communication between secondary and primary care; and increased partnership working with voluntary organisations.