A “mature discussion” between Fermanagh and Omagh Councillors over the once controversial issue of local health care provision has resulted in support for an acute mental health unit being developed in Omagh’s new Enhanced Local Hospital.

Councillors have also agreed on the existing three hospital model, therefore Altnagelvin, the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) and the new Local Enhanced Hospital in Omagh (due to be completed next year) will continue to service the needs of the Western Trust area.

Meanwhile, 11 councillors will sit on the new Fermanagh and Omagh Health and Social Care Services Group which will “inform and influence the Western Trust’s input into service design and delivery.” Following a workshop on June 8 with Deputy Chief Executive of the Western Trust, Joe Lusby and Assistant Director of Mental Health and Learning Disability for the Health and Social Care Board, Aidan Murray, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (FODC) has agreed that new acute mental health beds be placed in Omagh.

In 2013 the Transforming Your Care document recommended that acute mental health beds be relocated to SWAH but the Trust rejected this.

The Trust said that, given the long history of the Tyrone and Fermanagh site in Omagh, a specialist mental health skill base has developed in the Omagh area which would be difficult to replicate in Enniskillen.

The new £85 million Enhanced Local Hospital is due for completion next year.

As well as a mental health unit, it will provide for 30 Rehabilitation beds, 10 Palliative Care Beds, a 24 place renal dialysis unit, a Health and Care Centre including modern GP Accommodation and an Urgent Care and Treatment Centre.

It will also provide advanced diagnostic services together with three-day surgery operating theatres and 22 recovery beds.

Eleven members of FODC will sit on the Fermanagh and Omagh Health and Social Care Services Group. That new group’s remit is to inform decision making on the range of services to be delivered in the South West Acute Hospital and in Omagh Local Enhanced Hospital. It will examine staffing provision across local hospitals.

Commending councillors for reaching agreement, Omagh Sinn Fein Councillor Marty McColgan said: “Given the division there has been in the past, there was a mature discussion and this council did show its grasp of the new area.

“It was good to see that people weren’t being parochial but wanted the best health care for the people of this district.”