THE ERNE Hospital, Enniskillen, will be the site of a new upgraded maternity unit for the Fermanagh and Omagh area.

At a tense meeting in Londonderry last week the Western Health Board voted to rationalise maternity service in its Fermanagh and Omagh Management Unit area and have one maternity unit - in Enniskillen. The decision was greeted with delight by the Maternity Action Committee members who had travelled to Londonderry for the meeting, and dismay by the Omagh contingent - who have threatened to take legal action against the Health Board.

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The Board’s decision will now go before the Minister for Health for Northern Ireland - whoever that may be after next month’s general election. An announcement from Stormont is not expected before the summer, with the Western Board hierarchy hoping for the new unit to be open within two years.

The meeting dragged on until almost 2pm when a vote was finally taken on the proposal to rationalise services in the southern area with one maternity unit based at the Erne Hospital. It passed by eight votes to two.

After the decision, delighted members of the Maternity Actions Committee (pictured right) and Fermanagh councillors greeted the news with loud cheers. Around 30 supporters had travelled from Fermanagh for the meeting.