KESH mother Ciara Noble has recalled how her son Mason “wasn’t breathing” when he was rushed to South West Acute Hospital’s neo natal unit following his premature birth in 2013.
She says she does not know if Mason, who is now four years old, would be here today had it not been for the “expert care and attention” of the hospital staff at the neo natal unit.
The ward is currently under threat as part of a £12.5 million Savings Plan drafted by the Western Health and Social Care Trust Board. It proposes that the unit should be replaced by a ‘transitional care’ based service, to be provided from the paediatric ward instead. 
“Thank God the neo natal unit was there,” Mrs. Noble told The Impartial Reporter.
“We don’t know if our son would be alive today if that expert unit had not been there for him.
“I was rushed in, my waters had broken and panic rose as I was a planned c-section. Within minutes I was in theatre and minutes later our son entered this world, but we didn’t get to meet him until 48 hours later,” she recalled.
Mason, who was born at 34 weeks weighing 5lb 6oz, was “whisked away” to the neo natal unit for “emergency, lifesaving treatment.”
“He wasn’t breathing. Those 48 hours seemed a lifetime and when we were introduced to our cherished baby, we could hardly see him for wires and tubes.
“The days that followed were tough, but not as tough as they could have been had it not been for the care, love and attention that the nurses provided not only to our son but to us, especially me, a frantic mum who was also recovering from surgery,” she said.
Beyond the care provided by the hospital staff, Mrs. Noble says it was also “the little things” that made the difference such as “the photographs they took when we weren’t there and the phone calls to offer me reassurance when I just felt it was all so much.”
“Their expert care and attention goes beyond the care they give the babies; it extends to the parents, in particular mums who are naturally vulnerable in those first few days and to the wider family.”
The future of the service for premature and sick babies is now under threat thanks to the Trust’s controversial savings plan which was launched recently.
All five of Northern Ireland’s Health and Social Care Trusts have been tasked by the Department of Health to develop draft savings plans to deliver their share of a total of £70 million of savings in 2017/18.
It is the Western Trust’s responsibility to make up £12.5 million of this over all province wide savings plan.
“Because we live in the sticks doesn’t mean we don’t need services, and it certainly doesn’t mean that you cut a service that provides a lifeline for future generations,” said Mrs. Noble. 
The Trust is holding a public meeting tonight (Thursday) at the Lakeland Forum in Enniskillen (7pm to 9pm) and are inviting people to express their views on their 2017/18 saving plan proposals. 
If you are unable to attend the meeting but would like to comment on the consultation the Trust says you can do so before October 5, 2017. 
For more information visit www.westerntrust.hscni.net.