The Fermanagh and Omagh District Councillor who first brought attention to the possible withdrawal of emergency surgery at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) has been scathing in his reaction to the latest developments around the service.

Councillor Paul Blake, SDLP, claimed at a Council meeting two weeks ago that emergency surgery was to be withdrawn and was this week reacting to the news that the Western Trust is planning pathways “in the event” emergency surgery is withdrawn.

‘Embarassing’

“It’s embarrassing if these are the people left in charge of our Health Trust, and their performance over the last two weeks would leave a lot to be desired,” said Councillor Blake.

“And we are asking these people to run and maintain our health service with three hospitals in it and they can’t even manage their own communications over the last two weeks?

“When I announced it two weeks ago, they went to all levels to deny and said no decision has been made yet.”

He said the latest situation left staff and the public with even more uncertainty over the future and called on the Trust management to be more transparent with the public after saying they want people to work “constructively” with them.

“There is no consideration for the staff at all. People who work hard every single day for that Trust.”

Councillor Blake continued: “It makes Fermanagh the poor relation in everything that goes on.

“We are the most remote part of Northern Ireland, with an elderly population, with people that are in need, and the one thing that they do want is to know there is a hospital on their doorstep if they are in need at nighttime or any time of the day.

‘Lay out the facts’

“If you wish to work constructively with the public, then lay out the facts of what it is that’s going to be impacted.”

The Western Trust has held meetings in recent days with a cross-party group of MLAs and local councillors regarding the latest developments.

Speaking after the meeting with the Trust, Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan said: “It’s clear that the Western Trust and the Department of Health need a three-year budget that will allow them to plan and transform services at hospitals such as the SWAH which need more staff.

“Sinn Féin is ready to form an [Northern Ireland] Executive today and to invest an extra £1 billion in the health service to hire more doctors and nurses and cut chronic waiting lists.”

‘Appeal’

She added: “I would appeal to local DUP representatives: if you are serious about making health a priority, tell your party to get back to work, and form a government that can support health services in Enniskillen.

“Notwithstanding the challenges that exist, the Western Trust and the Department of Health need to focus their energies in the immediate term to recruiting the necessary surgeons to ensure the health needs of the community of Fermanagh continue to be met.”

Health Minister Robin Swann emphasised his commitment to the SWAH and said he emphasised to the Trust that it must “leave no stone unturned in its ongoing recruitment efforts”.