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FAQs

 

 

 

 

 

 

The health and care conversation: A vision for the future – Fermanagh and West Tyrone

We want to create a vision for the future of health and care in Fermanagh and West Tyrone. To do that we need to understand what people need from health and care services in this area.

As we plan services for the future, it’s important we design something that works for the people who rely on services. This is your opportunity to tell us what matters most to you and what challenges there may be in introducing change. What you tell us will help shape how services are planned and developed in your area.

Health and care services are changing. More people are living longer, often with more complex needs and demand continues to grow. We want to make sure that the services we build locally meet the needs of our communities now and into the future.

This engagement focuses on changes we know are happening, both nationally and locally. We are asking for views on areas such as care closer to home, support from a wider range of health professionals, the use of digital services, new treatments and technologies, and a stronger focus on prevention and helping people stay well.

This work will help us better understand the needs and concerns of our communities and support more realistic and sustainable planning. It is about listening and understanding what needs to be in place so that any future changes are informed, considered and grounded in real experience.

The current engagement programme is not a public consultation. Instead, it is a structured programme of engagement designed to gather views, experiences and ideas from staff, local communities, service users, carers and partner organisations before the Vision is developed further.

Throughout the summer and into the autumn, the Trust will continue to engage with local communities through a range of opportunities, including community events, hospital and GP sites, local venues and public spaces across Fermanagh and West Tyrone. Online engagement webinars will also be held, providing opportunities for people to ask questions and contribute to the discussion.

People can also participate at a time that suits them by completing the online questionnaire through NI Direct Citizen Space.

Further detail and information will follow and be available on this official online Hub.

Make sure you take part in the health and care conversation and have your say on the care you receive.

FAQs – public

Why are you engaging?

We want to create a vision for the future of health and care in Fermanagh and West Tyrone. To do that we need to understand what people need from health and care services in Fermanagh and West Tyrone.

What people need and want from health and care is changing. More people are living longer with complex conditions, technology is evolving and changes in how we live, work and connect are shaping what people expect from services.  As services evolve, it is essential that they reflect the needs of our local population including differences in needs between communities, areas and individual circumstances.

This engagement is an opportunity to listen for us to local people and understand what matters most to you; your priorities, concerns and expectations for the future.

What we hear will help ensure that future planning and development of health and care services is informed by the views and experiences of the people who use them.

What will you do with what we tell you?

Everything we hear will be carefully analysed and used to inform future planning for health and care services in the area.

It will give us data and information to show us what particular sections of the community need for something to change or where there is disparity or difference. It will, we hope, highlight areas where we need to work with partners and other organisations as well as the community and voluntary sector and individual people, to make accessing health and care easier, quicker and more effective. We have designed this exercise to allow us to understand what people are comfortable with and what concerns them, identify what needs to be in place for changes to work well locally and then shape how services are designed, communicated and implemented in the future.

We will publish the findings of the engagement, in a completely anonymised way, so that people can see how their views have been reflected.

How will you make sure you reach all sections of the community?

We are using a range of methods to make sure as many people as possible can take part.

This includes:

  • Pop-up kiosks in the community
  • Drop-in sessions in health, care and community settings across the area
  • Online access
  • Working with local community and voluntary organisations
  • Providing translated, easy-read and accessible materials
  • Targeted outreach to groups who are often underrepresented

Our aim is to ensure that the engagement reflects the diversity of the community.

Will you be coming to my area?

We are planning a programme of engagement activities across Fermanagh and West Tyrone to ensure a wide geographic spread.

This will include community venues, public spaces and local events. A full list of locations and dates will follow in July 2026.

Initially there willbe opportunities to take part online and through community groups.

What will this mean for the future of health and care locally?

This engagement is about helping to shape a long-term vision for health and care services in the area.

It will inform how services are designed and delivered in the future, help us understand what people need and expect and support more realistic and sustainable planning.

The aim is to ensure that future services are shaped around the needs of the local population and that communities feel involved in that process.

How can people get involved?

There will be a number of ways to take part:

  • Pop-up kiosks in the community
  • Drop-in sessions in health, care and community settings across the area
  • Online access
  • Through local community groups and organisations

We will provide clear information on where and how to get involved, and support will be available for anyone who needs help to take part.

Are you talking to Trust staff?

Yes, the engagement has been designed to reach both the public and people working in health and care. There is a bespoke set of questions for Trust staff asking about their perspective on how health and care services run and what people need from them going forward.

Is this a rerun of the previous consultation exercise which was paused?

No. This exercise is looking at the wider future vision of health and care in Fermanagh and West Tyrone. It is not a consultation it is an engagement designed to understand people’s needs when accessing care and support.

What does this mean for the future of emergency general surgery at SWAH?

This exercise is looking at the wider future vision of health and care in Fermanagh and West Tyrone. It is not a consultation it is an engagement designed to understand people’s needs when accessing care and support.

We recognise that emergency general surgery is an issue of significant concern locally and you can find our more about that here [LINK TO SITE RE EGS]. The purpose of this engagement is to understand broader views about future models of care and what people need to feel confident in services.

 

Posters

We are creating a vision for the future of health and care in Fermanagh and West Tyrone.

We need your views on what is needed to make that vision a success.

Scan the QR code to find out how to take part.

Click here to view the Poster for use in any public facility