The arrival of a new consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) means there will be a resumption of GP training and the return of colposcopy clinics which had been relocated to Altnagelvin Hospital.

Professor Mohamed Khalil took up his role in the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) in October of this year, while his wife, Dr. Rabab started as a consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at SWAH this month.

From Egypt, Professor Khalil has worked in his home country, Saudi Arabia and most recently in Wales at the Glangwili General Hospital in Carmarthen.

But this is not his first time in Northern Ireland, or even in Enniskillen for that matter.

"Already I have trained in Northern Ireland in 1997 between different hospitals including the Royal Maternity Hospital, Antrim Hospital, Belfast City Hospital and the old Erne Hospital in 1997," explained Professor Khalil.

His four children were born in Northern Ireland and he remembered fondly the bungalow he lived in by Lough Erne and the abundance of ducks and fish he saw.

Times have changed and although the bungalow is no longer there, and according to Professor Khalil there are also fewer ducks and fish, he still has a strong attachment to the area.

It was this, along with some sage advice from others that saw Professor Khalil choose Enniskillen as his next post.

"I had been offered a consultant post in Merseyside close to Liverpool and Eastbourne Hospital before I joined this hospital.

"However, I did speak to trustworthy people and I did take their advice to join South West Acute Hospital," he said adding that this also despite some negative reporting in the media about the hospital.

And he wants to work to turn that negative narrative into a positive one while he is here.

"We need to work together to turn this negative feedback into positive feedback," Professor Khalil said before explaining how he is hoping to do this: "The people here are a very small community, they appreciate the small things.

"For example, the colposcopy clinic had been moved from here to Altnagelvin because I am already a colposcopist and examined by the British Society of Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology," he explained having gained a PhD in colposcopy in 1999.

"So, I'm returning the service to South West Acute Hospital. I'm very pleased to restart this service again."

Professor Khalil is also determined to tackle waiting lists which have been a huge problem for the health service in recent times.

"We will strive together for excellence to get rid of the long waiting lists and to be safe at the same time to our patients."

He will be taking up the role of Clinical Supervisor for GP Trainees in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

This is new for Professor Khalil who was facilitated by the Western Trust to do his training for this role.

It means the clinical supervision of GP trainees in Obstetrics and Gynaecology will resume in February 2024 having been paused for six months.

He said he is looking forward to teaching and assisting the new generation of doctors and exposing them to the benefits of working at SWAH so that some may make the same choice as him in their careers and choose to work there.

Having been working at SWAH for two months now, Professor Khalil is full of praise for all those at SWAH for making him feel welcome.

"Since I joined I'm working among a well dedicated, passionate and supportive team," he said adding that when he spoke to his wife about moving to SWAH she trusted him and applied for the consultant post she is now in.

Just a week into the job Dr. Rabab was throwing herself straight into it.

She was due to be completing her orientation but at the time of the interview with her husband, which was hoped to have been a joint interview, Dr. Rabab was working in one of the hospital's operating theatres.

It shows the attitude the Khalils have to their work with Professor Khalil concluding: "We are happy to work in this hospital. I will never regret I have come here."