Save Our Acute Services (SOAS) campaigners have spoken passionately about the suitability of the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) for bariatric surgery, and have called on local people to make this clear to the Department of Health (DoH).

Members of the campaign addressed a public meeting on Wednesday last, and urged those in attendance to complete a consultation document demanding that the specialist surgery be brought to Fermanagh.

The consultation is available from both SOAS campaigners, who will be out on the ground locally in coming days, and online via the DoH website. It closes on Friday, February 16 at 5pm.

Campaigner, Jimmy Hamill, said that bringing bariatric surgery to SWAH was in keeping with the campaign's five-point plan as a "crucial step" in restoring Emergency General Surgery (EGS) locally.

"This isn't just about getting the surgery at SWAH, it's about sustainability and increasing available work for staff," he said, referring to the fact that around 1,600 people are currently employed at the local hospital.

"It is worth noting that each person who has had bariatric surgery remains, for the next years, under the care of the hospital where they have had surgery.

“In terms of the sustainability of our workforce, this unit is very important.”

The meeting heard that the proposed facility would see around 100 procedures delivered in the first year.

Mr. Hamill outlined that in Northern Ireland, around 60,000 adults have a BMI greater than 40, while 20 per cent of children are classified as overweight - up from 16 per cent just five years ago.

"There is a very strong argument as to why there is a need for bariatric surgery", he said, outlining that the estimated cost of obesity to health and social care in 2016 was £457million, compared to the estimated cost of setting up the service, which is forecast to cost between £1million and £2million per year.

"There is a very strong argument as to why this should be done in Northern Ireland, and we say that it should be done in SWAH", Mr. Hamill added.

Helen Hamill, secretary of SOAS, said that "it fits" to have bariatric surgery in SWAH.

"Why chose SWAH? Because it fits," she said. "It fits with our five-point plan, which was drawn up in consultation with specialists, surgeons, doctors, and medical experts.

"They have suggested that introducing specialisms draws a medium-term interest in our hospital and increases stability. The more surgical activity, the more attractive it is to surgeons to consider moving here.

"Moreover, cross-border funds are available, and our hospital was developed with a view to developing cross-border capability. All-in-all, we are in favour of this elective hub."

Mrs. Hamill added that all the necessary equipment required for the surgery was already in place at SWAH, adding that "the only thing lacking is imagination".

She also felt that the introduction of bariatric surgery at SWAH could help secure the future sustainability of the hospital for both patients and healthcare staff.

"We have always stated that every job and life matters. Our hospital is the biggest employer in this county, and each one is affected dramatically by the situation the trust has placed us in.

"The Trust has a duty of care to every patient and every staff member, and we are ever conscious of this."

Mrs. Hamill added that SWAH is often regarded as an "unused asset" at a time when waiting lists in Northern Ireland are at an all-time high.

"They already chose SWAH. We aren’t choosing SWAH," she said. "This was announced in March 2019 – so why are we wondering why to choose SWAH?”