SWAH emergency surgery to be axed, claims councillor
Department refutes comments saying no decision has been made ‘yet’ on ‘changes at SWAH’
AN SDLP councillor has claimed there are plans to withdraw emergency surgical services from the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH).
At the very end of Tuesday night’s full Fermanagh and Omagh District Council meeting, a frustrated Councillor Paul Blake spoke on information he had received that the Health Minister Robin Swann is due to visit the hospital at the end of the month to make the announcement.
A well placed source speaking to The Impartial Reporter backed up the claims made by Councillor Blake on the removal of services.
However, The Department of Health, in response to the claims, has disputed his comments saying no decisions have “yet” been reached on “changes at SWAH” following the Northern Ireland wide review of general surgery provision.
Having tried to raise the issue throughout the Council meeting on Tuesday, SDLP Councillor Blake finally got to speak at the very end of the meeting and there was no further discussion after it.
He said he was “exasperated” at tying to raise the issue and hit out at what he saw the some councillors trying to prevent him speaking.
Describing it as “extremely alarming, Councillor Blake claimed: “It was recently brought to my attention that the Health Minister is due to come down to this district at the end of the month to announce the withdrawal of emergency surgical services from the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen.
“And I think that we need to write to the Minister, as a matter of urgency,” said the SDLP councillor for Enniskillen.
COUNCILLOR Blake continued: “Is he aware of the potential impact that could have on other services particularly obstetrics and A&E?
“Is there a plan to retain emergency theatre for c-sections or post partum haemorrhages and also ask is he aware that for a long time now we have been receiving assurances from the Chief Executive of the Western Trust, Neil Guckian, that there are no plans to cut surgical services from the SWAH and is this (development) now about to go back on that?”
Immediate action
Councillor Blake said there needed to be correspondence sent immediately to get some clarity of the matter and give it the utmost attention.
“I am just asking, as well, what is his long term prospects for the long term enhancement and improvements of services in SWAH?
“Is it it going to be elective centre? All these questions need to be answered. It is the matter of the utmost urgency for people who live in this district,” added Councillor Blake.
His proposal was seconded by Sinn Féin’s Debbie Coyle who stated that is “apparently what’s going on”. and agreed by all those councillors present for the meeting.
Refuted
In response to questions raised about Councillor Blake’s announcement a Department of Health spokesperson refuted that any changes have been decided for SWAH, yet: “The Department is aware of staffing challenges for general surgery in SWAH and is supporting the Trust in their work to find solutions.
“No decisions have yet been taken on changes at SWAH.
“The Review of General Surgery outlines the challenges to general surgery across Northern Ireland and provides standards for emergency and elective general surgery.
“The standards are to ensure patients receive the care and treatment they need by the clinicians best suited for their need.
“The implementation of the review may lead to reconfiguration of the provision of general surgery however this review is not about closing any of our hospitals.
“Instead, it is about ensuring that our patients receive the care and treatment they need, when they need it. Given the huge and growing demand for health and social care, we will continue to need every inch of our hospital estate.”
The spokesperson also said Minister Swann would not be visiting SWAH in the coming weeks to make an announcement.
Trust response
The Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT) were also contacted by this newspaper to respond to Councillor Blake’s claim about the alleged upcoming removal of emergency surgery and if it was correct; what departments will be affected by this and how was the decision taken?
In a short repsonse a spokesperson for the Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) said: “Emergency surgery has not been suspended at the South West Acute Hospital, Enniskillen.
“The Trust is currently experiencing workforce challenges.”
“The Department is aware of staffing challenges for general surgery in SWAH and is supporting the Trust in their work to find solutions.no decisions have yet been taken on changes at SWAH