31/05/2023
Professor Ronan O’Hare, Deputy Medical Director at the Western Trust has extended his thanks to staff at South West Acute and Omagh Hospital’s for what has been an exceptionally busy few months for staff.
Professor O’Hare explained: “We have experienced one of the busiest ever periods at SWAH’s Emergency Department, as well as very high numbers of patients being admitted to SWAH for further investigation and specialist care. From 1 January to 31 March 2023 we had 9,153 attendances at SWAH’s Emergency Department and 4,265 patients attend our Urgent Care and Treatment Centre at Omagh Hospital, an increase of 6.5% from the same period in 2022.
Within the first few months of 2023, SWAH has been working at capacity or beyond funded bed capacity on many occasions with 1,438 admissions to Cardiology, Geriatric and Medical wards, 600 Day Cases managed and 477 Paediatric admissions.
Obstetric and maternity services also had a busy period with 564 antenatal attendances at Omagh Hospital and 873 at South West Acute Hospital, as well as 286 precious babies being born.
A wide range of Consultant Led Outpatient appointments have also taken place at both hospitals with almost 29,500 patients being seen at SWAH and approximately 18,000 at Omagh hospital between 1 January and 31 March 2023.
Elective activity continues to increase in South West Acute Hospital. Since January 2023 up until 31 May 2023, 539 patients have been operated on with 99 of these patients operated on at the SWAH Elective Overnight Stay Centre (EOSC). Other core activity continues to provide sessions in our theatres across Gynae, Dental and Breast, with the fully commissioned Elective Sessions per week being delivered.
Professor O’Hare continued: “Despite the continued rise in demand for our services, as always our staff have been fantastic, pulling out all the stops and working together to care for our very sick patients with exemplary skills, kindness, compassion and dedication.
“Thanks again to all our medical, nursing, AHP, Support Services and Community staff for supporting all our patients and clients throughout this particularly busy time.”