Fermanagh and Omagh District councillors have called for the board of the Western Trust to resign from their positions as a result of its handling of the emergency surgery crisis at the South West Acute Hospital
The calls came amid reports that staff of the Co Fermanagh hospital were told that one of its wards that deals with emergency surgery is to close to admissions from 4 December.
It is understood staff in the hospital were called to a meeting on Wednesday in which they were informed of details of Ward 3’s closure.
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The Trust has said it is developing contingency plans after efforts to recruit consultant general surgeons to the hospital have been unsuccessful.
SDLP councillor Adam Gannon proposed a motion of no confidence in the board of the local health Trust at a meeting of its Policy and Resources committee on Wednesday. He also called for the board to resign and management of the Trust to be put into special measures.
“Some of you may be aware of this, many of you maybe won’t be aware of this. Trust representatives announced that the emergency surgery ward Ward 3 will no longer be taking admissions from the 4th of December and will be closed from the 18th of December,” Cllr Gannon said.
“They have announced that to staff today, we had that after a meeting with union reps.
“The Trust did everything to deny this was happening."
He added: “I’m disgusted and outraged, everyone here should be, as is the entire public.
“The Trust board and the management that have made this decision should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.
“They’re not fit to do their job, they are failing the population and they are failing their responsibilities.”
UUP councillor Victor Warrington was one of those to support the motion, which passed unanimously.
“On a week when Enniskillen and indeed the wider Fermanagh and Omagh area was recognised as the best place to live in the whole of Northern Ireland, certainly anybody considering moving down here when they look at our hospitals would be having second thoughts,” said Cllr Warington.
“I think the Trust has been very disingenuous in this, have been very evasive and haven’t responded to our request for an urgent meeting.
“We all want to retain the services in our SWAH because of the distance to Altnagelvin and Craigavon.
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“40 miles in an ambulance is no fun, unfortunately I’ve been there myself so certainly I would support the proposals.”
When asked specifically about reports that staff at the SWAH were told Ward 3 was to close in December, the Western Trust did not answer the question directly.
“Once the Trust is in a position to provide an update, we will communicate this at the earliest opportunity,” a spokesperson said.
“Subsequent to the Board meeting on 18 October 2022 the Trust has again gone out to recruit for four general surgeons. The closing date for this recruitment is 18 November 2022.
“In the meantime it is prudent for the Trust to develop contingency plans to ensure safety of patients should a change in service be necessary. Such contingency plans involve engagement with a wide range of staff, Southern Health and Social Care Trust, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, private ambulance providers and Sligo General Hospital management.
“In addition, we have invited in the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to provide assurance on any wider impact. As part of contingency plans, we will consider all recommendations received in feedback from this.”
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