Fermanagh Stroke Support Group are calling on people to drop-in to their office and locally arranged facilitation sessions to ensure a strong response on the future of stroke services consultation.

A consultation from the Department of Health dealing with the future of stroke services in Northern Ireland has put six options forward, four of which will see the closure of the stroke unit at South West Acute Hospital.

The Fermanagh Stroke Support Group are also planning a series of meetings across Fermanagh and Tyrone in the coming weeks to give people the opportunity to respond to the consultation and ensure that their voices are being heard.

A spokesperson from the group said,

“We are offering our services to facilitate responses to the current consultation on the future of stroke services.We ran a great campaign which the public and elected representatives came in behind during the pre-consultation process. We must retain our fantastic stroke unit here in Enniskillen as well as ensuring that everybody, regardless of their location, has fast access to life-saving services."

Volunteers will be on hand daily at the Fermanagh Stroke Support Group office, located on Down Street in Enniskillen adjacent to the Buttermarket, to offer advice and assistance in responding to the consultation.

“Life-saving treatment and rehabilitation outcomes depend on the time it takes to access treatment following a stroke. The message coming from Fermanagh, and indeed from across the north, must be that every single person has a right to fast access which ensures the best possible outcome both in terms of survival and quality of life in the future, " a spokesperson for the group said before adding,

“We would encourage the public to drop-in and use our services, come along to their closest meeting, and spread the word in their local areas. Let’s ensure that we retain these services for this and future generations.”

Dates and venues of meetings will be circulated in the coming days.