South West Acute Hospital: Western Trust director says golden hour a 'huge misconception'

The Western Trust says the idea of a 'golden hour' when it comes to transferring patients for emergency surgery was a 'huge misconception' after a campaign group claimed people in Co Fermanagh were 6% more likely to die as a result of service changes at the South West Acute Hospital

The Trust also said in a media briefing on Monday that no applicants met the criteria in a recent recruitment drive for consultant general surgeons at the Enniskillen hospital.

Providing an update on the first week of a reduced rota for emergency general surgery at the Co Fermanagh hospital since the controversial decision to withdraw the service, the Trust said there were a number of applicants for the roles but that none had met the essential criteria.