14/05/2026
The Western Trust has announced the next stage in developing a new Vision for future health and care services in Fermanagh and West Tyrone, following approval by Trust Board on Thursday 7 May 2026. The programme will now move into a formal engagement phase, with structured engagement taking place from June to September 2026.
The Vision will set out how hospital and community services can work together to meet the needs of a changing and growing population. It will take a whole-system view of care across Fermanagh and West Tyrone, including South West Acute Hospital, with a focus on ensuring services are safe, sustainable and high quality into the future.
Western Trust Chief Executive Karen Hargan said:
“This is about developing a clear, forward-looking Vision for health and care services in Fermanagh and West Tyrone, shaped by the people who use, deliver and rely on those services every day.”
She added:
“We are committed to meaningful, inclusive and transparent engagement. This formal engagement phase is an opportunity for staff, communities, partners and public representatives to tell us what matters most, what is working well and where change is needed.”
The announcement follows a comprehensive early engagement programme carried out between October 2025 and April 2026, involving staff, public representatives, local councils, Department of Health, SPPG, PHA and a range of stakeholder groups. The next phase will be delivered in partnership with Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and through established community planning structures to help ensure a wide range of voices are heard, including Section 75 groups.
Karen Hargan said:
“We recognise that this is an important and sensitive piece of work. By working together, we can build a Vision that supports safe, sustainable and high-quality services for local people now and in the years ahead.”
Following completion of the formal engagement programme in September 2026, the Trust will review the feedback and present initial analysis to Trust Board from November 2026. That work will help inform the development of the Vision and the next steps towards its launch.
Detailed information on the programme of work for the vision is available on the Trust’s Online Hub for Fermanagh and West Tyrone Health and Care Futures