A SERIES of public rallies have been held throughout Fermanagh as the Western Health Board prepares to make its final decision on the future of maternity services in Fermanagh and Omagh.

On Monday, campaigners received a boost when the Health Care Committee of the Board – after listening to recent calls for the two units to be retained – decided to unanimously endorse its recommendation in favour of one unit at the Erne Hospital.

The Committee's decision is the most influential backing the hospital could receive and has delighted campaigners who last Saturday took to the streets of four Fermanagh villages to highlight the case for basing the unit in Enniskillen.

Hundreds of people demonstrated in Newtownbutler, Belleek, Ballinamallard and Lisbellaw despite the unpleasant weather conditions – and they heard calls for campaigners not to be complacent.

The Board's Health Care Committee met in Londonderry on Monday to make a final recommendations to its governing body, who will take its decision next Thursday, March 26.

In Lisbellaw, Councillor Sammy Foster said the people of Fermanagh were not seeking privilege, but to ensure that the county's expectant mothers and their unborn children were not being disadvantaged.

Mr. Foster said it would be a complete neglect of duty if the Board deprived the people of Omagh and Fermanagh of a modern service which is essential to our wellbeing, now and in the future.

In Ballinamallard, a member of the village's sub-committee, Raymond Farrell, said the issue would not be finally resolved until the Health Minister had opted for one unit in Enniskillen.