Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has backed the Five-Point Plan put forward by campaign group, Save Our Acute Services (SOAS), to address the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) emergency surgery situation, although there was some division in the Chamber and within parties.

Councillor Eamon Keenan, Independent, told members: “The Western Trust still claim the closure of emergency general surgery at the SWAH is temporary, while showing us no actions or measures they are taking or planning.

“They are continuing to advertise for four consultant general surgeons to be based at Altnagelvin Hospital, not at the SWAH, claiming this will maximise the capability of elective care.

“This is not a solution. It actually seems like a plan to permanently close emergency surgery at the SWAH,” claimed Councillor Keenan.

He also remarked on the now controversial topic of the ‘Golden Hour’ – a widely-held concept that critically injured patients are required to receive definitive care within 60 minutes from the occurrence of injuries, after which mortality significantly increases – “which the Western Trust say is now defunct and out-of-date, but the Trauma Triage Policy states 45 minutes is a safe travel time for emergency surgery”.

He claimed: “By their own admission, in my view, it seems the Western Trust never intended to reopen emergency surgery at the SWAH, and is willing to do this by disregarding current safety guidelines.”

He proposed the Council write to the Western Trust “outlining our continuing dissatisfaction, and [stating that the Council] stand by the SOAS Five-Point Plan”.

This comprises a separate Trust for the South Western area; the restoration of an emergency surgical service; new initiatives to ensure a settled workforce where all staff including consultants are respected and are valued; the introduction of all surgical specialities; and the relaunch of all five operating theatres to provide emergency and elective care “in tandem, not either-or”, said Councillor Keenan.

This was seconded by Councillor Paul Blake, SDLP, who requested Councillor Keenan include a demand for the Western Trust to provide minutes taken at the public consultation meetings “in full, without redaction, because we don’t trust the Trust”.

However, Sinn Fein’s Councillor Tommy Maguire noted that SOAS have the opportunity to address their Five-Point Plan directly with the Western Trust, and: “I’m not questioning any of the facts and figures that some members have presented to the Chamber, but I hear one person say one thing, and hear the Trust saying another.

“I think it would be timely for us to withhold our support for the Five-Point Plan until we hear the discussion between SOAS and the Trust, because there are facts and figures issued without any major verification on both sides.

“I certainly wouldn’t be supporting it at this stage.”

Agreeing, Councillor Victor Warrington, Ulster Unionist, said: “Our party certainly won’t be supporting the proposal either until we get more detail.”

Chief Executive, Alison McCullagh, advised members SOAS had provided “very complimentary feedback and are content with the alignment between the Council’s consultation response and the Five-Point Plan”.

With dissent evident, the proposal went to a vote, which passed 21 to 13, with two abstentions.