2 May 2025

SDLP Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Group Leader councillor Adam Gannon has challenged Executive parties to address the removal of emergency general surgery from the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH).

He was speaking at a Save Our Acute Services meeting in Fermanagh House on Thursday night.

Councillor Gannon said:

“Since the removal of key services from our local hospital we have heard representatives from Executive parties repeatedly pay lip service to reversing these decisions and fighting for people in this area. It’s easy to talk – but the Executive has been restored for well over a year now and the fact is not one of these parties has lifted a finger to do anything about the SWAH.

“At last night’s meeting I challenged Executive parties representatives directly to commit to ensuring their party raises these issues, including the restoration of emergency general surgery, around the Executive table – the silence was deafening. They are more than happy to turn up to these meetings and offer the public tea and sympathy, but that is all they have to offer when it comes to delivering.

“The SDLP is realistic, we know that the Executive does not have magic wand that can make all of our problems go away, but we have not even heard mention of a plan to restore services. Our health service must change if we are to deliver the care that patients need, our current system isn’t working and patients and staff are being failed as a result. However, this change cannot come at the expense of rural communities and we will continue to highlight the unfairness of very sick people being forced into an hour’s journey in an emergency situation to get the help they need.”