Do you know someone from Fermanagh who could serve as a Non-Executive Director of the Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust)?

The Department of Health is seeking to appoint 16 Non-Executive Directors across the six HSC Trusts in Northern Ireland, with two of such positions available for the Western Trust.

They are for a lay Non-Executive Director member, and a lay Non-Executive Director.

Currently, there is no one from Fermanagh serving on the Western Trust Board of Directors – something that has been raised frequently by hospital campaign group, Save Our Acute Services (SOAS).

A SOAS spokesperson said: “The people of Fermanagh and South Tyrone are significantly disadvantaged by the total lack of representation on the Board of Directors of the Western Trust.”

Quoting findings from a consultation carried out by SOAS, a spokesperson for the group said: “Senior management [at the Western Trust] has allowed the situation whereby Fermanagh has no representation at all on the Board of Directors.

“Eight Executive Directors, five Non-Executive Directors, one Chief Executive and one Chairman – and not a single one from Fermanagh.”

A Department of Health spokesperson said: “The overall aim for the Trusts is to improve health and social well-being outcomes, through a reduction in preventable disease and ill-health, by providing effective, high-quality, equitable and efficient health and social care.

“Applicants for these positions must show on their application form – and if invited for interview – [how they] meet the following essential criteria: working together, governance, and risk management.

“Applicants for the Finance position must also show on their application form – and if invited for interview – how they meet the following additional essential criterion: financial management.”

Further details on the positions can be found on the Department of Health website, with the deadline for receipt of applications set as noon on Friday, June 30.