‘We don’t trust the Trust’ – campaigners

Bitter local opposition grows to threat to cut services at the SWAH

CAMPAIGNERS have vowed to fight on for the future of services at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) and called on politicians to do everything in their power, including legal action, to stop cuts to services at the hospital.

Save Our Acute Services Chair, Reggie Ferguson, also called on the community to continue to support the campaign to fully restore acute services.

The call comes as Fermanagh gears up for upcoming protests against the latest developments at the SWAH.

A ‘ring of steel’ around the hospital is planned for Saturday at 3pm, followed by a mass protest next Friday, December 2 at the Broadmeadow, Enniskillen.

Mr. Ferguson hit out at the Trust for the “content, style and tone” of its presentation at last Thursday’s meeting.

It was also at this meeting that Mr. Ferguson stated: “We don’t trust the Trust.”

Referring to the threat facing the SWAH, Mr. Ferguson said: “The Trust had clearly failed to properly communicate to the public and our local elected representatives about the withdrawal of acute services in the hospital, and as a result it increased anxiety and concern within the community.

“The meeting with the Council did little to assuage that anxiety. We condemn the decision, which will potentially leave almost 60,000 people at risk, increase mortality by 7 per cent for life-threatening emergency travel, and risk the lives of expectant mothers and stroke victims and send them to faraway hospitals which have no room.

“This is why we don’t trust the Trust. People in Fermanagh deserve better, and should not be the poor cousins to the rest of Northern Ireland.”

At a tense meeting of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council last Thursday, councillors expressed their concerns around the announcement, with Councillor Diana Armstrong (UUP) calling it a “dark day”, while SDLP Councillor Adam Gannon told the Trust officials: “Don’t take us for fools.”

For full coverage of the latest SWAH developments and reactions, turn to Pages 4 to 8.