Patients who require emergency surgery in certain parts of Fermanagh may be sent to Sligo General Hospital if the service is withdrawn from the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH).

Following the announcement on Monday that Western Trust management is becoming “increasingly concerned at the fragility of Emergency General Surgery” at the SWAH, the Director of Acute Services for the Trust has said there is planning under way to ensure safe pathways are in place should a decision be taken to withdraw the service.

In a press briefing on Monday afternoon, Geraldine McKay outlined some of the staffing issues the Trust is facing and some of the options that will be available should emergency surgery be withdrawn.

When asked about the options for those requiring emergency surgery and with the SWAH not being an option, Mrs. McKay said: “The key areas are our surgical team in Altnagelvin, because we are the same Trust.

“We also have Craigavon Hospital, which is [a] Southern Trust [facility], but is actually much closer in distance, and depending on where you live or your postcode in Fermanagh, we also have engaged the Sligo General Hospital team as well.”

However, Brendan Lavery, a Western Trust Medical Director, said Sligo General would have similar staffing concerns to the SWAH, but not quite at the level the SWAH is facing.

A special Trust Board meeting was held on Monday, October 17 to consider the position regarding emergency surgery at the SWAH as well as the expansion of elective surgery.

“We have a number of emerging issues. This week, we have been told about the resignation of one of our consultants, who is a substantive employee,” said Mrs. McKay on Monday.

“We know that one of our other consultants has advised us about a period of planned leave. We are also aware one of our locum consultants is going back on some annual leave to his country and may not return.

“So that leaves the service – which we have all known about for quite some time, that has been vulnerable – it now leaves it in a very fragile position, and we have to deal with that now.”

Mrs. McKay said recruitment attempts are continuing to provide a safe service for the population of Fermanagh and West Tyrone, adding: “I think it is really important to say if I am down to one consultant, that is not a safe service for the public or patients or that clinician.”

While the threat to emergency surgery looks imminent, Mrs. McKay did not expect an impact on the emergency department or any other service at the SWAH at this time.

She said there is a process in place for safe pathways for patients should anything happen, with engagement with the team at Altnagelvin, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, and other health trusts in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.