A leading consultant cardiologist has confirmed she has resigned from her position at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH).

Dr. Susan Connolly, who was named as a a ‘Healthcare Hero’ by the British Heart Foundation last year, confirmed to The Impartial Reporter that she had resigned from her position but declined to comment further.

Dr. Connolly was awarded the prestigious accolade for her role in setting up and leading the transformational Our Hearts Our Minds programme for a cardiovascular health service in the Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust).

Located at the SWAH in Enniskillen, the Our Hearts Our Minds programme is delivered by a nurse-led multidisciplinary team, including dieticians, physiotherapists/exercise professionals and psychologists.

The programme is a groundbreaking and innovative programme that aims to help patients and their families to reduce their risk of heart attack and stroke by utilising remote and interactive technology.

At a time when hospital pressures are at an all-time high, the resignation marks a blow for the SWAH and the many patients who would have been under Dr. Connolly’s care.

There are now concerns regarding the impact of this on cardiology services at the SWAH, with a source telling The Impartial Reporter another locum cardiology consultant is due to leave the SWAH later in the year, while there are also a number of nursing vacancies needing to be filled.

When contacted by this newspaper with questions regarding events around Dr. Connolly’s resignation and the other locum consultant leaving, and what affect thiswould have on cardiology services at the SWAH, a spokesperson for the Western Trust said: “The Trust does not comment on individual employee matters.

“Cardiology services are delivered across the Trust by a group of permanent and locum medical staff.”

In response to whether the Our Hearts Our Minds programme would continue following the departure of Dr. Connolly, the Trust said: “The Our Hearts Our Minds programme forms part of the Trust-wide cardiology service, and is delivered by a Trust-wide team which ensures stability of the service, should there be changes to the workforce.”

In terms of the vacant roles, they added: “As with any consultant vacancies that arise, these will be recruited for via established Trust processes.”

The Impartial Reporter has put further questions to the Trust on the impact of the staff issues on cardiology.

In recent months, the SWAH has come under scrutiny for staff shortages in its Neo-Natal Unit, while there have also been concerns raised about the Emergency Department and surgery provision at the hospital.