Latest news with #SouthWestAcuteHospital
BBC News
5 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Swah: Trust agrees to pause emergency general surgery consultation
The Western Health Trust has agreed to "pause and reconsider" its consultation on the future of emergency general surgery at the South West Acute Hospital (Swah).Emergency general surgery was temporarily suspended at the Enniskillen hospital in December 2022, with some patients from Fermanagh and Tyrone having to travel to Londonderry, an hour and a half's drive 3 July the Western Trust's board agreed to consult on the permanent removal of the service from Wednesday, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt called on the Western Trust to pause its consultation. In a statement on Thursday, the trust said it had agreed to do added: "The trust supported by the Department of Health remains fully committed to the long term development and vision for Swah."It is important for the public to note that the temporary emergency transfer of general surgery to Altnagelvin Hospital continues to be in place. "In conclusion the board does wish to apologise for the uncertainly that has been created for the public as a result of these events and clearly our commitment is to address these issues and through a revised process of consultation and engagement." What is emergency general surgery? What is emergency general surgery?Emergency general surgery relates to the treatment of patients with conditions such as acute abdominal pain, infections, bleeding and includes operations such as removing a patient's gall bladder, appendix or part of the left unattended these conditions can become emergency general surgery operations are to the Western Trust, SWAH dealt with about five such cases a day and that was not enough to sustain a dedicated emergency general surgical team.
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Swah: Trust to consult on ending hospital surgery services
A proposal to consult on the permanent removal of surgical services from the South West Acute Hospital (Swah) has been agreed to at a board Western Health and Social Care Trust board was told it is "no longer possible to meet important safety standards at the Swah".Emergency general surgery was temporarily suspended at the Enniskillen hospital in December 2022, with some patients from Fermanagh and Tyrone having to travel to Londonderry for treatment at Altnagelvin Area Hospital instead, up to an hour and a half's drive the time, the Western Trust said the suspension was necessary to protect the public's safety after it had problems recruiting surgical staff. Campaigners say the loss of services and the distance and travel time, as well as poor transport infrastructure, put lives at Guckian, the chief executive of the Western Trust, told the board meeting that it was "not a rushed decision" and he understood the "strength of feeling" that this issue generates."We have over two and a half years of working under these pathways. Working effectively with no concerns on patient safety," he added. Mr Guckian said evidence showed that patients who need to go to Altnagelvin Hospital "have better clinical outcomes" and "no patient has come to harm". 'No clinically adverse outcomes for patients' Dr Brendan Lavery, medical director of the Western Trust, said that independent evidence showed there was a "very significant difference in mortality scores" between the Swah and Altnagelvin hospitals."When comparing the two units Altnagelvin comes out considerably better," he told the meeting that during the temporary suspension of surgical services there were "no clinically adverse outcomes for patients".Mark Gillespie, director of surgery, paediatrics and women's health at the Western Trust, said the temporary suspension of general surgery had "transformed and improved patient outcomes"."The proposal has the support of the surgical consultant workforce and myself as director."Geraldine McKay, director of unscheduled care, medicine, cancer and clinical services at the Western Trust, outlined the intention to launch the 12-week consultation on 8 July on the Western Trust Western Trust also plans to hold a series of "consultation events" including in Fermanagh, Londonderry and consultation responses will be published in the winter of 2026 with ministerial approval needed for any enactment of change.
