Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has said no “permanent decision” on the future of Emergency General Surgery at South West Acute Hospital has been made despite the service being suspended by the Western Health and Social Care Trust almost two years ago.

The matter was discussed during a meeting of the Council in Enniskillen Townhall on Tuesday night. 

Writing to Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Minister Nesbitt said: “As you will be aware, the decision to temporarily suspend emergency general surgery at SWAH was taken by the WHSCT on the grounds of patient safety due to the inability to sustain the consultant rota required.

“Reasons for closure pointed largely to the underlying workforce issues. The Trust is currently delivering a service via the current reconfigured model utilising new surgical assessment units at SWAH and Altnagelvin Area Hospital and new conveyancing pathways undertaken by the Northern Ireland Ambulance service.

“Your Council members will also recall that earlier this year my Department asked the RQIA to undertake a detailed review and I hope to receive its findings shortly.”

He signalled that a public consultation would be needed to allow for this decision to be made, in his letter he said: “No permanent decision has been made by the Trust, and that itself would require public consultation wherein I would expect all views to be listened to and considered in line with Departmental Guidance on Change and Withdrawal of Services. Elected representatives and all other stakeholders in the area would have the opportunity to respond to that.”

Erne West Councillor Adam Gannon, SDLP, told the chamber that he believes the minister "has no intention of restoring the services here".

He added: “The response absolves himself of responsibility.”

Erne East Councillor Sheamus Greene, Sinn Féin said he feared the Department is simply "stripping services".

"The Enniskillen hospital, the SWAH [is] being downgraded from acute hospital to a general hospital, Omagh seems to be downgraded from whatever designation it has now to an almost glorified health centre. That seems to be the bright new hope for health.

"That is what we are expected to throw our hands up and cheer on? I don’t think we should be cheering that on.”