Fermanagh GAA is calling for decision makers at the Western Trust and Department of Health to meaningfully engage with the people of Fermanagh, hospital campaigners, elected politicians the business and sporting community.
The roadmap produced by Save Our Acute Services (SOAS) provides the vision that the Health Minister has requested alongside firm evidence of the need for SWAH to become a rural area hospital.
Our GAA members and their families have been directly negatively impacted by the removal of emergency general surgery from the SWAH and we deserve healthcare we can depend on at a local level. Sustainable sporting communities along with continued economic growth in Fermanagh depends on consistent, accessible services—from GP care to emergency response services, and for a long time the system has been failing.
This is a defining moment for the 300,000 people of the Western Trust. As a significant sporting body in the region, Fermanagh GAA have a duty of care to stand up and represent our players and members. The current process of transferring emergency surgical patients from SWAH to Altnagelvin is deeply flawed and puts our players and members at unnecessary risk. We know that current HSC capacity already fails to meet demand and is unable to facilitate a resilient ambulance system. This has been articulated repeatedly by respected healthcare professionals, regulators and trade unions.
Recent emergency care statistics reinforce Fermanagh GAA’s concerns with the NI Ambulance Service missing average response targets of 8 and 15mins throughout 2024/25, including for life-threatening 999 calls. During the winter months, it failed entirely to meet 30-minute targets for critical 999 level transport cases.
Fermanagh GAA’s concerns reflect significant alarms already expressed about the future of SWAH by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, trade unions, business leaders and politicians at Stormont and Westminster. Our players, members and their families deserve equal access to emergency healthcare. We are calling on decision-makers to work together toward a model of care that meets the needs of our community at a safe and local level.
For details on SOAS visit: https://saveouracuteservices.org
By Communicationsfermanagh Fri 29th Aug
