A MAJOR hospital scandal in England was referenced in a discussion about the upcoming review into the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH). 

Between January, 2005 and March, 2009, between 400 and 1,200 patients died as a result of poor care at Stafford Hospital, which is a small district general hospital in Staffordshire, England.

It is often described as the worst hospital care scandal of recent times.

At last Thursday night's meeting of Save Our Acute Services (SOAS), campaigner Karen Eccles said the scandal showed "consequences" of cuts to staffing and services.

"We look at Mid-Staffordshire, which shows the consequences of making cutbacks to staffing, and the persistent reduction in services," the nurse said. 

"It was only when people collectively got together, and put their stories together, that they identified the conditions and the way people were treated."

Mrs. Eccles said the scandal reinforced the need for local patients and staff to share their stories as part of a review from the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA).

The review will look specifically at the suspension of Emergency General Surgery at the SWAH.

"You may be frightened - everyone is. We all have concerns," she said, alluding to concerns that some may have about sharing difficult medical experiences.

"But the people in Mid-Staffordshire didn't come out until it was so bad that almost 1,200 patients died, some in very poor conditions."

Mrs. Eccles also spoke on earlier comments regarding the impact of high demand at Altnagelvin A&E in Londonderry.

 "I think it's very sad, particularly as a nurse, to hear how we have got to the fact that we are not washing people," Mrs. Eccles said.

"This is why your story really matters. It's not about the huge things. It's about compassion. It's about care. It's about commitment."

She added: "We are not going to accept this any more. We pay our taxes; we are good people in Fermanagh.

"We don't want anything extra. We just want the basic standard of care that everyone else is getting."