Trust agrees to pause hospital consultation

The Western Health Trust has agreed to "pause and reconsider" its consultation on the future of emergency general surgery at the South West Acute Hospital (Swah).

Emergency general surgery was temporarily suspended at the Enniskillen hospital in December 2022, with some patients from Fermanagh and Tyrone having to travel to Londonderry, an hour and a half's drive away.

On 3 July the Western Trust's board agreed to consult on the permanent removal of the service from Swah.

On Wednesday, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt called on the Western Trust to pause its consultation.

In a statement on Thursday, the trust said it had agreed to do so.

It added: "The trust supported by the Department of Health remains fully committed to the long term development and vision for Swah.

"It is important for the public to note that the temporary emergency transfer of general surgery to Altnagelvin Hospital continues to be in place.

"In conclusion the board does wish to apologise for the uncertainly that has been created for the public as a result of these events and clearly our commitment is to address these issues and through a revised process of consultation and engagement."

Speaking before the trust issued its statement, the MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Pat Cullen, said she had heard increasing concerns from constituents who were concerned about the "lack of meaningful public consultation".

"I have written to the health minister to request a meeting to discuss my concerns and suggestions for ensuring a robust and meaningful public consultation about the Swah," the Sinn Féin politician said.

Concerns about the consultation process had been raised by the Patient and Client Council (PCC), a body which represents the interests of the public in the health and social care system in Northern Ireland.

In a letter sent to the campaign group Save Our Acute Services (SOAS) earlier in July, the PCC said it was "disappointed with how PCC's early conversation with the trust has been reflected in response to concerns about the consultation, including in the media".

It said it had met with trust representatives on a "single occasion" in May 2025 " to provide early advice on best practice approaches to public involvement and engagement, in line with our statutory remit".

SOAS previously described the decision to consult on removing emergency general surgery as "absolutely disgusting".

The trust's confirmation that it was pausing the consultation came after it postponed a consultation event which was due to be held on Tuesday in the Killyhevlin Hotel.

At the time it said it took the decision due to the "anticipated numbers registering to attend and in the interests of public safety".

Emergency general surgery relates to the treatment of patients with conditions such as acute abdominal pain, infections, bleeding and trauma.

It includes operations such as removing a patient's gall bladder, appendix or part of the bowel.

If left unattended these conditions can become life-threatening.

Most emergency general surgery operations are scheduled.

According to the Western Trust, Swah dealt with about five such cases a day and that was not enough to sustain a dedicated emergency general surgical team.

In June 2022 in a review of general surgery across Northern Ireland, the Health Department listed six key provisions that must be met to ensure that health trusts offered a safe service.

These include providing a workforce, a process and protocols which deliver a safe service, as well as quality assurance to monitor and gauge the provision of services.

Without all six in place, a hospital could not be expected to deliver emergency general surgery.

Emergency general surgery was then temporarily suspended at Swah in December of that year.

At the time, the Western Trust said the suspension was necessary to protect the public's safety after it had problems recruiting surgical staff.

At a trust board meeting at the start of July when the consultation was agreed to, the board was told it was"no longer possible to meet important safety standards at the Swah".

Campaigners said the loss of services and the distance and travel time, as well as poor transport infrastructure, put lives at risk.

Neil Guckian, the chief executive of the Western Trust, told the board meeting it was "not a rushed decision" and he understood the "strength of feeling" that this issue generates.

"We have over two and a half years of working under these pathways, working effectively with no concerns on patient safety," he added.

Mr Guckian said evidence showed that patients who need to go to Altnagelvin Hospital "have better clinical outcomes" and "no patient has come to harm".