The Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) has denied reports that the Emergency Department (ED) or General Surgical Service at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) is under threat of closing.

In correspondence seen by this newspaper, Western Trust Chief Executive Neil Guckian said: “There is no imminent threat against either the ED or General Surgical Service at the current time.”

This response came after CCLA Councillor and Assembly election candidate, Councillor Dónal O’Cofaigh, raised concerns regarding the future of SWAH services.

In his correspondence with Councillor O’Cofaigh, Mr. Guckian said: “I can confirm the Trust has commenced a Trust-wide review of its General Surgical Service provision. This review has three phases, and the first phase is looking at the provision of emergency general surgery across the entire Western Trust geography.

‘Envisaged’

“You may be aware of this, as we have communicated with our elected representatives in relation to this. It is envisaged that a report with recommendations on future provision of Trust-wide emergency general surgical services will be available around early summer.”

He continued: “This is entirely in keeping with the regional review of General Surgery. Any proposed changes to services would be subject to consultation, and the Trust would fully intend to consult widely on any proposed change that may be required or accepted by our Trust Board.”

A spokesperson for the Western Trust confirmed this ongoing action to this newspaper and said: “The Trust is currently undertaking a review of general surgical services across the entire Trust geography. As part of this review, a programme board and work streams were established to explore long-term surgical workforce sustainability, both locally and in partnership with the region.”

Concluding, Mr. Guckian said: “There are no plans to downgrade the SWAH.”

Reacting, Councillor O’Cofaigh said: “This response is hugely concerning – regardless of the assurances that the Trust are not seeking to ‘downgrade the SWAH’.

“Indeed, we should recall that when the Southern Trust ended emergency surgery at Daisyhill Hospital, they claimed it was not downgrading that hospital either.

“The reality is that there are only two hospitals providing emergency surgery in the Western Trust region – Altnagelvin, and the SWAH.

“Any ‘review’ of that can only mean a threat to the service at SWAH,” he claimed.

Councillor O’Cofaigh continued: “The loss of emergency general surgery to the SWAH would mean ambulances being forced to drive past the SWAH’s A&E to go to either Altnagelvin or Craigavon, which is already struggling to cope with the additional pressures from the closure of Daisyhill.

“This is part and parcel of the Bengoa [Report] rationing of NHS services – a disaster for Fermanagh and Tyrone.”

Calling for action, Councillor O’Cofaigh said: “Like with the Stroke unit previously, we need to build a campaign to defend this service. We cannot afford these services to go.

“As a start, I am encouraging a solidarity protest outside the SWAH this Sunday at 3pm to highlight our opposition to any threat to Emergency General Surgery. The Trust needs to understand our community will not accept the removal of emergency surgery from the SWAH.”