A mass protest has been called in Enniskillen over the threat of the withdrawal of emergency surgery services at the South West Acute Hospital.
Fears have been expressed that the loss of emergency surgery at the hospital could lead to a further loss of services at the SWAH.
While the Western Trust maintains that no decision has been made on the future of emergency surgical services at the hospital, it says consultant recruitment issues mean it must plan for the loss of the service.
READ MORE: Western Trust planning for possible loss of emergency surgery services at SWAH
The Trust is funded for six consultant general surgeons, but only three are currently in place at the SWAH. It is currently advertising for four consultant general surgeons, however the job description says the roles will be based in Altnagelvin, with ‘trust-wide working’.
Local campaigners have called on the Enniskillen and wider Co Fermanagh public to attend a mass protest at the Broadmeadow on Friday 2 December in response to the threat of losing the service.
Enniskillen town councillor Paul Blake, who first made public Trust plans to withdraw the service at a council meeting earlier this month, said the health body needs to be more transparent with the public.
“I think the Trust’s handling of this situation has been pretty appalling if I’m honest, when people’s jobs and livelihoods and patient safety at risk here,” Cllr Blake said.
“They say they want to work constructively with people. If you want to work constructively with people, be honest and up front with them about the impact on them.
“Since that hospital was built, there has always been threats hanging over the loss of services whether it be maternity, neo-natal, stroke services and now this.
“To think that closing or reducing services in a hospital will solve the problems in the NHS, they are seriously misguided.
“We all have families and loved ones and we all want the hospital on our doorstep to protect the people in this area. The public needs to be aware of what’s going on.
“It’s up to the Trust to do whatever they have to do to recruit people and I’m still sceptical that in a worldwide process they can’t find the necessary people.”
Western Trust chief executive Neil Guckian had said the local health body wanted to be 'up front' with the public about the difficulties in retaining the service.
“I am very aware that the situation with emergency surgery will be deeply concerning to patients and staff. It’s not a position we want to be in but we have to plan ahead and be up front with the public about what that planning involves," Guckian said in a statement. "I ask everyone to work with us constructively.”
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