Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has unanimously backed a motion to explore legal action to defend emergency surgery and acute services at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH).

A Sinn Fein amendment was largely similar but stopped short of the legal route, and instead sought direct engagement with the Western Health and Social Care Trust and the Department of Health.

Proposer, Councillor Donal O’Cofaigh, CCLA, said: “The community need us to stand together with the strongest possible action in opposing this genuinely existential threat.

“Once this goes forward, the die will be cast and the dominoes will inevitably fall … I don’t believe this circumstance is accidental. I’ve heard it being justified in departmental circles.

“This council needs to act strongly and take the lead in a legal challenge. If we don’t, we won’t be on the front foot.

“The decision on Daisy Hill [Newry] was made overnight without consultation, Equality Impact Assessment, rural proofing or consideration of human rights or public health.

“We can act before this comes at us and be ready to launch a legal challenge as necessary.”

Councillor Paul Stephenson, Democratic Unionist, contended recruitment is the main threat to surgery, adding: “Scaremongering won’t attract anyone to apply if they thought services would end.

“Job security is a big factor for anyone, especially in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.

“We must all work together … but we must also bear in mind if the council proceeds to use a legal avenue, it could be a big financial cost.”

Councillor Paul Blake, SDLP, hit back, telling members: “I make it clear – this is not scaremongering, nor a political football by any means. This is people’s lives at stake. That’s the reality. People will die.

“This is a deliberate attempt to run down services at the SWAH. You cannot lose emergency general surgery and continue as normal.”

He was also critical of the Western Trust, which he claimed “fails to be truthful and honest with us”, continuing: “It came out with very fancy, glossy terms about ‘elective centres’ when the reality is the impact on people’s lives [any reduction in services could have].

“Don’t try to gloss over it, which the Trust is trying to do. The Department of Health must step in now, because my confidence in the Trust is failing.”

Party colleague, Councillor Adam Gannon, was “shocked” at the use of ‘scaremongering’ and pointed out: “That word was used when Councillor Blake first raised this, and what he said was true.

“When it’s a confirmed threat, it’s utterly ridiculous to make it out as ‘scaremongering’. This is an existential threat to our hospital.

“Every minute matters in emergencies. Lives will be lost. People will die.

“In respect of financial cost, what’s the point in this council even existing if we cannot defend something as vital as our hospital services when lives are on the line?”

He continued: “I don’t get the impression the Trust want to work constructively; otherwise, they wouldn’t have gone to such lengths, along with the Department, to deny what was happening, just to confirm it two weeks later. We need legal action.”

Independent Councillor Bernice Swift said: “We cannot afford to be political where health is concerned. The public are absent all of the facts, and we need to identify the falsehoods.

“We need frank and candid statements as soon as the Trust know. I take some comfort in being told no decisions have been made , and I remain hopeful to retain the suite of services.”

She added, in terms of engaging with the Minister for Health: “We must recall how many times we’ve asked for a meeting, which haven’t even been acknowledged.

“I suggest we by-pass those already ignoring us and contact the Permanent Secretary. We need to go straight to the top, and straight for the jugular.”

Councillor John Coyle, SDLP, told members: “The Trust told us no decision had been made, and that was false. It’s unfair they have hoodwinked us as a council.

“The roles requiring to be filled are Trust-wide, and not specifically for the SWAH. We support the legal avenue.”

There were also stern words for the Western Trust from Ulster Unionist Councillor John McClaughry, who said he and his colleagues kept in touch with the Minister right up to the last hours of his tenure, and: “Despite what the Trust may be insinuating, there had been no decision taken at that point.

“The Minister asked for a number of assurances, but by the time of leaving office, answers to some of those key points remained outstanding.

“The role of this council is more important than ever. And we must be especially observant that the Trust don’t try to use the political uncertainty as a means to slip through decisions which otherwise require final Ministerial sign-off.

“This council needs to double down and hold the Trust to account.”

Councillor Emmet McAleer, Independent, was critical of the use of some language, adding: “Terms like ‘scaremongering’ and ‘playing politics’ are disgraceful and disgusting. This should unite everyone.”

The amendment was defeated 16 to 15 with one abstention, after which the motion passed unanimously.