The advertised General Consultant Surgeon posts advertised by the Western Trust will not be filled until at least next April.

The four posts, which were advertised to be based at Altnagelvin with travel to the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH), closed to applicants on November 18 – one day after the Trust announced the temporary suspension of emergency surgery at the SWAH due to staffing issues.

The Trust were asked about the roles and how many applications they had received.

In response, a Trust spokesperson said: “We cannot provide the number of applicants for the post as this information is confidential.

“However, we can confirm that there have been a number of applicants for the post, shortlisting is under way, and that interviews are expected to take place during December.

“Following any successful appointment(s), it is unlikely that they would be able to take up post before April/May, 2023.”