SWAH staff were ‘disappointed’ when told of upcoming suspension of emergency surgery
DISAPPOINTMENT was the feeling among staff at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) when they were informed of the decision taken by the Western Trust to temporarily suspend emergency general surgery at the hospital.
The Trust’s Director of Acute Services, Geraldine Mckay, said it was “quite a disappointing day for staff, particularly the staff in our emergency surgical ward”.
But she said they reassured staff and advised them that the Trust needed staff to stay and work in the SWAH.
The Trust announced the decision to suspend emergency general surgery due to a further resignation received from a consultant in the general surgery team, and therefore the emergency general surgical rota will not be provided from December 18.
Emergency general surgery will be maintained until December 4.
When asked about the dates, and their already being out in the public domain, including being stated by councillors, and if these dates were already planned for the removal of services, Mrs. Mckay said: “So why this is different from October 17 [when the Trust first announced issues with emergency surgery at the SWAH]?
I am not party to what was said at the Council, or whatever. I have never given dates at the Council [meeting].
“I have said at the Council I have had one resignation, and that person leaves this Trust on December 18 – that was my brief to the Council.”
When pressed on the matter, Mrs. Mckay continued: “When I gave you my brief last time, I had one resignation.
“I have three substantive consultants. I have one resignation. I have a consultant who is going off on a period of planned leave early in January, and now I have a further resignation, which has actually triggered this unplanned change, and that resignation came to me on November 8.”
When asked again how it looks that these dates have been reported before, and have come from people within the SWAH, Mrs. Mckay said: “I can’t comment. I can give you the facts only.”