The Pathfinder process, which was established to look at a new way to provide health and social care in Fermanagh and West Tyrone, has hit a major stumbling block, with the Western Health and Social care Trust (WHSCT) confirming that two of the seven ‘Expert by Experience’ members are no longer part of the process.

The Expert by Experience positions were advertised by the WHSCT with applications whittled down to the seven people, who were appointed to their positions on March 6. The seven elected were Barry Mimnagh from Ederney, Barry Boyle from Cooneen, Fermanagh, Kevin Taylor from Omagh, Noel Baxter from Ballinamallard, Joey Kelly from Loughmacrory, Dianne Little from Fermanagh and Caroline Wheeler from Enniskillen.

However just two months later, on May 8, two of the seven, Ms Wheeler and Ms Little, had, according to the Trust, “made the decision not to continue as Experts by Experience for the Pathfinder Project and have therefore left their appointed roles in the process.”

However, claims were made on a Facebook page of a local health lobby group, Fermanagh Save Our Services, Ms Wheeler and Ms Little had “refused to sign gagging orders” and that this was the reason as to their non-involvement.

The Impartial Reporter specifically asked the WHSCT if there was “a confidentiality agreement to be signed in order to remain as an Expert by Experience in the Pathfinder process?”

The Trust, in their response, did not refer to a confidentiality agreement but stated:

“Our Experts by Experience will be directly involved in the work-streams which will influence the direction of the future Pathfinder planning process. In the spirit of respect and to ensure the integrity of all the volunteer service users in this involvement process, an involvement agreement was drawn up for all Experts by Experience to review and sign up to the principles of co-production for the Pathfinder project. Five of the Experts by Experience chose to do so.”

On the Fermanagh Save our Services Facebook page a public disagreement between two of the originally appointed Expert by Experience members took place in the comments section of the original post that refereed to the “gagging order”.

Kevin Taylor posted in reply from a member of the public that spoke about bullying in the process:

“I can reassure you as I attended every meeting their (sic) was no bullying off any sort going on there was no reason Diane and Caroline M Wheeler could not have signed the alleged gagging clause and got on with it.”

Ms Wheeler then responded to this post by stating:

“Kevin Taylor as you are aware everything is being done without true involvement, everything has been set in stone & we are supposed to be the (emoji of a ‘tick’ and an emoji of a ‘box’). To tell anyone to sign by 4 pm or else your removed is NOT reasonable.

In terms of the future of Pathfinder the Trust statement to this newspaper said that “the Pathfinder team will continue to work closely with the remaining five appointed Experts by Experience and we will review other requests, from the many applications received, to add to the team.”.

The Impartial Reporter also asked if personnel to be involved in the entire governance structure of Pathfinder been confirmed. In January of this year it was noted in the minutes of a WHSCT Board meeting that Kieran Downey had informed the meeting that the “Governance structure had been developed”.

In response to our request about structure and personnel the Trust explained:

“The Pathfinder Governance Structure has been agreed and the make-up of the groups, in terms of specific personnel, is still being finalised. It is envisaged that this will be completed and announced in June 2019.”