Stormont needs to take action to preserve Emergency Surgical Services at South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen – Cllr Mullen
Aontú Cllr Denise Mullen has called on the acting Stormont Ministers to step in now before Friday to
protect emergency surgical services at The South West Acute Hospital and avoid the threat that
their loss poses to the ongoing viability of A&E and maternity services provided currently at the
hospital. She stated;
“We are in a crisis situation here in Fermanagh and Tyrone. With the lack of full A&E services in
Omagh and the potential downgrading or indeed cessation of services in Enniskillen, the people of
Fermanagh and South Tyrone may be faced with the arduous journey to Derry, Craigavon or indeed
even Sligo in an accident or emergency situation. This would be an absolute disaster and would put
lives at risk , a point recently highlighted to the Western Trust by local medical consultants.
“In Enniskillen the surgical service which was to be delivered by a team of 6 Consultants had been
allowed to erode to a position where a permanent cohort of half that number have been delivering
the service . It is my understanding that two of the consultant workforce have provided notice of
their intention to leave, this would leave the team perilously understaffed if replacements are not
found asap. Ensuring the necessary Consultant cover in our hospitals is a key responsibility of the
Department of Health and ultimately the Minister for Health. It is clear that this has not happened”.
“The Minister in the remaining time that he has needs to roll up his sleeves and do what’s necessary
to fix this. There has been a collapse in the delivery of key health services in our area. We have
already seen profound difficulties with recruiting and retaining GPs in Fermanagh. This state of
affairs in our local hospital is doubtless not going to help that situation either! The time for action to
protect the health and well -being of our communities is well past. It is incumbent upon those
elected to our local assembly to move on from this political stasis and fulfil their responsibility to the
electorate!
CRÍOCH
