ONE of the dignitaries who joined Prime Minister Boris Johnson on his visit to Enniskillen was Health Minister, Robin Swann MLA.

Mr. Swann arrived at the vaccination centre at the Fermanagh Lakeland Forum shortly before the Prime Minister.

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter, he praised the facilities at the vaccination centre. He said: "[There are] fantastic facilities here in Enniskillen – I think they are replicated for what we've seen, actually, throughout Northern Ireland and in our vaccine programme.

"When we set out at the start, there was the intention to have a number of regional centres. The one in Enniskillen is [vaccinating] up to 500 people a day.

"When we switch the AstraZeneca vaccine, some time next week, we'll be able to get more through in the same time period.

"For the people of this area, [the vaccination programme is] really delivering. When you talk to the staff inside, they're getting a real sense of achievement by actually delivering a vaccine that does bring in hope.

"It will change where we will be in two or three weeks' time."

The Health Minister was then asked if he was concerned about the status of the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH), that has been operating over capacity at points throughout the pandemic.

Mr. Swann said: "We've seen a number of our hospitals working over capacity at this point in time, but I think it's a testimony to the people working in it, and to the people working in our health service, especially over the past 12 months.

"It is a health service that has been underfunded, and understaffed for the past 10 years, and that's been recognised and acknowledged, and is something that I, as Health Minister, want to correct.

"That's why we're now [operating] at a regional approach as to how we actually address some of those long-term and systemic issues."

Following his visit to the Forum, Mr. Swann visited the Breast Cancer Screening bus, that is owned and operated by the Western Trust, where he briefly spoke to members of staff.

The service at the Lakeland Forum had only been re-operating for a few days when Mr. Swann visited, with the bus reopened for appointments on March 8.

The service will operate extended appointment times, to facilitate enhanced infection control, and social distancing measures as a consequence of Covid-19.

As part of the screening programme the Western Trust will work in partnership with Action Cancer, who will operate a second screening unit at the Forum site.