The Chairperson of the group Save Our Acute Services (SOAS), which is campaigning against the Western Health and Social Care Trust decision to suspend emergency surgery at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH), has told a Special Council Meeting: “If we stay together and fight hard, we will win.”

Chair Reggie Ferguson reminded members of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council of a previous meeting when SOAS first appeared before them, at which “nobody knew what was happening or what was going to happen”, continuing: “Unfortunately, things have taken a turn for the worst.

“The ifs and buts have been replaced by certainty that emergency services at the SWAH have been removed, and it appears from the consultation programme from the Western Trust that’s it’s very unlikely it will be back again. That fills us with great concern.”

Mr. Ferguson stressed, however, that SOAS was not presenting a negative picture, continuing: “We believe in coming in person, unlike the [Western] Trust, and putting our case.

“We are a pressure group acting on behalf of the people of this area, and we are greatly concerned at the damage done by the catastrophic mismanagement of the Trust in delivering healthcare in this region,” he claimed.

Mr. Ferguson explained the SWAH was hard-fought for and became the pride and joy of the area; however, the Sperrin Lakeland Trust was removed under the Review of Public Administration and subsumed into the Western Trust, which, he alleged “has become an unmitigated disaster, through a combination of incompetence and perceived design to do-down the SWAH”.

He further clarified: “We can’t prove it, but it is perceived.”

Mr. Ferguson said the Western Trust management “should go now, and if they want to run Altnagelvin Hospital, good luck to them, but as far as I’m concerned, they’re toast”.

He continued: “We want to give a positive and hopeful view of what we believe is possible, which includes not only maintaining acute services, but expansion.

“The SWAH can play a very positive regional role. It is one of the finest hospitals on this island, and totally underused.”

Describing the Western Trust’s management as “incompetent” in his view, Mr. Ferguson said the area has not done well since the former Sperrin Lakeland Trust was scrapped.

He told the Special Council Meeting: “The powers-that-be have run – as they always did – around Derry. They are trying to create a Royal Victoria Hospital in the West, and that’s not going to happen. Their interests aren’t our interests.

“We wish them well in their own area, but we must give serious thinking to creating a new Trust, possibly in the Council district.

“It won’t be easy, and will involve the Department of Health being put on the spot and challenged.”

He further continued: “Things move very slowly in Northern Ireland, but we hope [going forward] our positive message will be heard.

“A lot needs to be looked at, including the graduate medical school. We need to train more doctors and get them to commit to the local area.

“If we need general surgeons, why not go back to the medical schools and tell them what we need?”

Mr. Ferguson concluded: “The Trust has run out of road and we have to replace it. Things can be brighter.

“The hospital can thrive, and there are all sorts of possibilities for the wonderful building it is.

“Undoubtedly, if we stay together and fight hard, we will win.”

 

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