SOUTH West Acute Hospital’s (SWAH) “serious problem” with attracting and retaining highly qualified staff were a hot topic of debate during Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s latest meeting this week.


As councillors considered a letter from Health Minister Michelle O’Neill, which attempted to clear up their concerns over her previous comments about the hospital’s “geographical remoteness”, Sinn Fein man, Barry Doherty accused members of “wasting time”.


“It’s over a month now since the letter was sent and the state of the hospital is exactly the same,” he said, “Writing a letter telling her (MS. O’Neill) that we didn’t like her language or her tone, instead of bring forward actual solutions to the issue, seems to me to be a monumental waste of time.”


But his criticism fell on deaf ears with Ulster Unionist, Chris Smyth.
“She is putting the blame on us for this -- that we misinterpreted what she was saying. But comments like hers could sign the death warrant for a number of services in that hospital and we have to challenge that attitude at every single opportunity,” he argued.


“There is a serious problem with the hospital,” Mr. Doherty conceded, “We are all fully aware of that. But I think councillors’ response to her comments is a symptom of us all living in the era of Trump and Brexit -- the fear mongering.


“We have been set a challenge by her -- we need to come together with solutions. I think the people in this room are smarter and more innovative than what they have shown recently on this matter.


“We could put bows or nice wrapping paper all over this but when you unwrap it again you are still left with the same problem. Stop wasting everyone’s time and instead, write a letter back with suggestions on how to improve the hospital, surely that would be a much more positive and worthwhile route.”


Referring to a feature he had read on doctors from the south of Ireland finding work in Australia, the UUP’s Bert Wilson said SWAH could not compete with the huge incentives being offered elsewhere.
“They are working 40 hours maximum out there,” he said, “If they’d have stayed at home they could have been facing 100 hours a week for half the pay.”


Independent councillor, Sorcha McAnespy told councillors she had spoken with a health professional in Altnagelvin during the official launch of the hospital’s new Cancer Centre.


“He was telling us about plans to bring a medical school to the North West,” she explained, “I think this would be a very welcoming move to us and could help to sustain SWAH, Altnagelvin and the new Enhanced Hospital in Omagh.”


Fellow Independent councillor and GP, Dr. Josephine Deehan, agreed.
“We as a council want to ensure the sustainability and the viability of SWAH and in order to do that we need everyone on board.
“Councillor Wilson is right -- we can’t blame young doctors when they are offered very attractive packages abroad.


“There is no doubt or question that the standard of training provided at SWAH is excellent and it is a training hospital with Queen’s University. The physical fabric of the building is second to none, the equipment is second to none but we need the staff.


“Altnagelvin has had to date no difficulty in recruiting senior medical professionals.
“So there is no doubt about it, if there is an offer of a good package in place, we will get the people to come and train here. But it requires a collective approach,” she added.