The Department of Health has ruled out a public inquiry into the Western Health and Social Care Trust’s handling of the suspension of emergency surgery at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH), deeming it “not warranted”, while the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) highlighted the lack of a Stormont Executive in dealing with such issues.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council wrote to both government bodies but elected members were left disappointed.

In his reply, Department of Health Permanent Secretary Peter May said: “The decision to temporarily suspend emergency general surgery services [at the SWAH] was made by the Trust in line with the circular and was supported by the Department.

“The mitigations put in place continued to be closely monitored by the Department … The temporary suspension has been the subject of a public consultation that closed on April 9, 2023.

“The outcome will now be considered by the Western Trust. Any permanent decision to cease emergency general surgery will require approval from the Department and Health Minister.

“As such, the Trust’s actions in relation to emergency general surgery at the SWAH do not warrant the need for a public inquiry.”

Meanwhile, NIO Minister of State Steve Baker said: “The provision of health and social care services is a devolved matter, and responsibility rests with the Department of Health [to] consider all aspects, including a public inquiry.

“It remains my hope that the parties will recognise the importance of getting back to work so that a restored Executive can take the decisions on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland.”

SDLP Councillor Adam Gannon referred to the use of the phrase “temporary removal” of emergency general surgery, and commented: “Part of the problem is that civil servants can’t be held to account in the same way elected individuals can.

“To resolve this, and give the people of Fermanagh and Omagh fair treatment and access to services, we need an Executive and a Health Minister.

“This is another example of what abstaining from your job in government does. It just hurts people.

“I don’t think we’ll get any further by ping-ponging letters back to them [the Department of Health, and the NIO].”

Councillor Anne Marie Fitzgerald, Sinn Féin, proposed writing to the Western Trust asking how many patients have been transferred out from SWAH since emergency general surgery was withdrawn, shown on a daily basis, and if any additional ambulance cover, including from the private sector, has been commissioned.

She also asked for the current waiting times at Altnagelvin Hospital, claiming: “Patients travelling from Enniskillen are having to face huge delays and the staff are getting really hard numbers coming through their doors.

“It’s having a detrimental impact on patients from this area and those in Altnagelvin.”

This was seconded by Independent Councillor Josephine Deehan, who expressed disappointment at the Permanent Secretary ruling out a public inquiry.

She said: “The public’s real concern is whether more could have been done over the years to prevent this situation.

“No-one can argue against withdrawing services which are unsafe, but what really led to that?

“I previously highlighted the pay disparity between consultants working in Northern Ireland and in Great Britain.

“There is also a huge anomaly in the Republic of Ireland. We’ve seen many of our consultants from the SWAH haemorrhage to the south.

“This must stop. It’s not a sustainable situation. If we don’t explore these issues, other services will be affected as well.”

She also explained during a private briefing for GPs in the area: “We were given to understand there are two appointments of consultant general surgeons to the Western Trust, one who is anticipated to take up their post at the end of the summer, and the other in autumn.

“I suggest we formally enquire if they will be supporting the SWAH.”

Councillor Diana Armstrong, Ulster Unionist, requested a breakdown of private ambulance costs included in the letter to the Western Trust, adding: “I also do not feel people in this area have been reassured around transfer to Altnagelvin Hospital.

“The Trust have said in order to provide a safe service, that emergency general surgery has been transferred temporarily.

“I would like to see the Trust provide messaging that the public understand around synchronisation of when they arrive at Altnagelvin, they don’t go to the back of an A&E list, and are seen at utmost speed.”

All inclusions to the proposal were agreed and passed unanimously.