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Fermanagh and West Tyrone Future Health and Care Services

Western Trust moving forward on visioning work for ‘Future Health and Care Services in Fermanagh and West Tyrone’

On 7 October 2025, the Trust Board formally agreed to close the Public Consultation and also approved the start of new work to design and develop a Vision Plan — a forward-looking programme that will focus on the people and places of Fermanagh and West Tyrone. As requested by so many people and partners, including elected Representatives, this plan will need a meaningful period of engagement and listening sessions and will include specific work relating to the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH). Further details will be provided as this programme progresses on this Information Online Hub.

Western Trust meet with Fermanagh Business Leaders: The Trust have met with Business Leaders in Fermanagh as part of an ongoing stakeholder engagement period to listen to and discuss concerns raised by the group.

Western Trust Chief Executive and Senior Leaders met with members of the Fermanagh Business Leaders Group at Encirc facilities in Derrylin, Fermanagh.

Chief Executive, Neil Guckian, said:

“We welcomed the opportunity to meet with Fermanagh business leaders today at Encirc. Following a tour of Encirc’s impressive facilities in Derrylin, our senior team had open and constructive discussions, listening carefully to concerns raised about the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) and wider health services. We were clear in our discussions that SWAH is a vital and valued part of the health service locally, with significant strengths, and that it will continue to play an important role in the future delivery of health and care in the area.

“We value these conversations and remain committed to ongoing engagement and clear communication as we work together to shape the future of health and care in Fermanagh and West Tyrone.”

Correspondence received by Fermanagh Business Leaders Group

Western Trust provides Independent Improved Outcomes Data for Emergency General Surgery Patients to Assembly Committee for Health

The Western Trust was pleased to host the Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Health at the South West Acute Hospital on Thursday 27 November.

Western Trust Chair, Dr Tom Frawley and Chief Executive, Neil Guckian, outlined to Committee Members the significant and growing challenges facing the Western Trust, including rising population needs, pressures on mental health and social care, increasing financial constraints, and ongoing medical workforce difficulties. They also provided an update on the developments in both Emergency General Surgery (EGS) and elective services, set against persistent winter pressures and increasing Emergency Department demand.

Chief Executive, Neil Guckian, outlined the ongoing shift across Northern Ireland and the UK towards day-case and ambulatory surgery, noting that,

“Hundreds of patients every year are now safely treated through ambulatory pathways at South West Acute and Altnagelvin Hospitals, with over five patients per day presenting at South West Acute Hospital receiving same-day or next-day assessment and treatment, and 2.5 patients per day transferred for inpatient care and treatment to Altnagelvin Hospital.”

A central theme of the Western Trust’s update was the continued improvement in outcomes for EGS patients since the temporary change in 2022. Mr Guckian confirmed:

“The Western Trust is fully compliant with the revised Emergency General Surgery standards introduced by former Minister Robin Swann in 2022. These standards were created to ensure that no matter where a patient lives in Northern Ireland, they receive safe, specialist care that meets the highest clinical benchmarks. Compliance with these standards has required significant transformation of our consultant workforce and the establishment of a 24/7 upper gastrointestinal bleeding pathway.”

All HSC Trusts in Northern Ireland have contracts with a benchmarking organisation, CHKS, who receive raw data which they analyse to produce mortality, flow, efficiency and safety and quality metrics. This independent CHKS analysis shows that since the introduction of the new clinical pathways, outcomes for general surgery patients across the Trust have continued to improve. Mortality has reduced by approximately 14%, complications by 21%, and readmissions by 22% – important indicators of safer care and better recovery for patients.

Western Trust provides Independent Improved Outcomes Data for Emergency General Surgery Patients to Assembly Committee for Health | Western Health & Social Care Trust

Western Trust begin stakeholder pre engagement meetings schedule

Following correspondence received from SOAS, as part of the Trust’s ongoing open and transparent approach to informing our staff and the public, we are publishing this information on our information hub.

SOAS decline offer of Initial Meeting with Western Trust Executive

Following a considerable number of communications between SOAS and the Trust in recent weeks, SOAS declined the meeting with the Trust at 5pm on Thursday 20 November and they notified the Council that the meeting would not be going ahead. The Trust has not refused to meet with SOAS and indeed have asked the local group to reconsider and that the opportunity remains open to proceed with a meeting in the future with suggested balanced arrangements to include an agreed agenda, an independent chair without a prior public position on the SOAS Roadmap, and a non-livestreamed initial meeting. The Trust has also provided an option for both parties to be invited to Council to present equally there.

Western Trust intervention secures Primary Care Services in three GP Practices in Fermanagh and West Tyrone

The Western Trust has intervened and taken action to support several GP practices in Fermanagh and West Tyrone that were at risk of closing and patients being dispersed to other GP Practices, following engagement with the Department of Health.

This Trust support has helped to keep GP services running in Fintona, Dromore and Trillick, and Brookeborough and Tempo, which may have closed down otherwise.

The Western Trust is currently planning work with all relevant partners and stakeholders to develop a shared understanding of local health and care needs, and to listen to the community on the future of healthcare in Fermanagh and West Tyrone. This follows the Health Minister’s request to begin the process of producing a vision plan, emphasising how the South West Acute Hospital will meet the health needs of its current and future population in the area.

Full story here: Trust Helps Keep Local GP Surgeries Open in Tyrone and Fermanagh | Western Health & Social Care Trust

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