Enniskillen Hospital Surgery Staff Say Services Unsafe

Emergency general surgery arrangements at Enniskillen's South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) have been deemed "not safe" and "not effective" by on-site staff. A recent inspection by the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) between November 2025 and February 2026 highlighted significant concerns regarding patient transfers and ambulance delays.

The inspection found strained relationships between hospital staff and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS), alongside confusion over clinical responsibility for patients awaiting transfer. The report noted a lack of additional resources for increased ambulance transfers or extra surgical bed capacity at Altnagelvin Hospital.

Front-line staff reported feeling "constantly in conflict" due to patient dissatisfaction with long waits and transfers, with some facing verbal abuse. NIAS warned that emergency transfers strain resources and leave rural communities vulnerable. Campaign group Save Our Acute Services (SOAS) criticized the "temporary sticking plaster fixes" and urged the Health Minister to fund a sustainable service.

While the Western Trust acknowledged the report, stating it recognized "significant progress," SOAS spokesperson Donal O'Cofaigh stated that 18 months after a review, urgent recommendations remain undelivered. The trust committed to working with stakeholders to implement improvements.