10/11/2026
The Western Health and Social Care Trust recently welcomed local MPs and MLAs to South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) for a comprehensive visit highlighting specialist services, innovative models of care, significant investment and the ongoing development of healthcare services across Fermanagh and West Tyrone. The visit also provided an opportunity to discuss the Fermanagh and West Tyrone Health and Care Futures programme, and the important role SWAH will continue to play in delivering care for local communities.
Hosted by Brian Telford, Vice-Chair of the Trust Board, together with Karen Hargan, Chief Executive, and members of the Trust’s senior leadership team, the visit provided elected representatives from Fermanagh and West Tyrone with the opportunity to meet frontline staff, learn more about key service developments and gain first-hand insight into the breadth of services available at SWAH.
Trust Engagement With MPs And MLAs At Emrgency Surgical Ambulatory Unit
The visit formed part of the Trust’s ongoing engagement with elected representatives, ensuring they have an opportunity to hear directly from frontline teams and gain a greater understanding of current service provision, future developments and the challenges facing health and social care services.
Welcoming the delegation, Brian Telford, Western Trust Vice-Chair, said:
“It was a pleasure to welcome local MPs and MLAs to South West Acute Hospital on behalf of the Board of the Western Trust. The visit provided an opportunity to showcase some of the fantastic services available here, including groundbreaking treatments, quality improvement initiatives and innovative models of care being led by our dedicated teams.
“We are proud of the expertise, innovation and commitment demonstrated by staff across the hospital every day and of the significant contribution South West Acute Hospital makes in caring for communities across Fermanagh and the wider region.”
During the visit, the delegation toured a number of departments and services across the hospital, gaining insight into recent investments and learning more about the significant work being undertaken by staff to improve patient outcomes and experiences.
Geraldine McKay, Director of Unscheduled Care, Cancer and Clinical Services, led a walk-through of the SWAH Emergency Department, where Consultants and senior staff discussed the ongoing pressures facing urgent and emergency care services, alongside the significant efforts being made to ensure patients continue to receive the highest possible standard of care. The delegation also met the Front Door Frailty Team, a recently established service at SWAH which is already making a meaningful difference for older people attending the Emergency Department. Early specialist intervention helps patients maintain their independence and return home safely wherever possible, reducing the need for unnecessary hospital admissions where appropriate.
Trust Engagement With MPs And MLAs At Stroke Unit
Throughout the visit, representatives were introduced to a range of innovative and specialist services that are helping improve patient outcomes, enhance patient experience and support more timely access to care. Professor Monica Monaghan highlighted SWAH’s specialist Cardiology services, one of only three centres in Northern Ireland delivering this level of care, alongside recent developments and investment within the MRI Unit that have enhanced diagnostic capacity. Delegates also learned about the Trust’s Videofluoroscopy service, currently unique to SWAH, which uses specialist moving X-ray technology to assess how safely a person swallows food and drink and is delivered jointly by Speech and Language Therapy and Radiography teams.
The delegation also visited the Emergency Surgical Ambulatory Assessment Unit, where staff outlined the benefits of rapid specialist assessment, investigation and treatment for patients presenting with emergency surgical conditions, often avoiding the need for hospital admission. The final stop of the visit was the hospital’s Stroke Unit, recognised for its high standards of care and strong clinical outcomes.
Karen Hargan, Chief Executive of the Western Trust, said:
“We were delighted to welcome our local elected representatives to South West Acute Hospital and showcase the breadth, quality and innovation of services being delivered across the site.
“The visit highlighted the expertise and dedication of our staff, the significant investments we have made to enhance services and patient care, and our continued commitment to developing services for the population we serve. It was also an important opportunity to discuss the future direction of healthcare through the Fermanagh and West Tyrone Health and Care Futures programme and the vital role SWAH will continue to play in that future.”
The delegation also received an update on this Fermanagh and West Tyrone Health and Care Futures programme, which is helping to shape a long-term vision for sustainable, high-quality health and social care services across the area. Discussions focused on future opportunities to enhance services, improve patient access and ensure services continue to meet the needs of local communities in the years ahead.
Mrs Hargan added:
“South West Acute Hospital is an integral part of the future provision of health and social care in the region. As we continue our visioning and planning work through the Fermanagh and West Tyrone Health and Care Futures programme, we remain committed to developing and enhancing services for local communities in the years ahead.”
The visit provided elected representatives with a valuable opportunity to engage directly with frontline staff, see first-hand the quality and range of services available at SWAH, gain insight into the pressures facing health and social care services and hear about the Trust’s plans to further develop and enhance services through the Fermanagh and West Tyrone Health and Care Futures programme.
For more information on the Fermanagh and West Tyrone Future Health and Care Programme, visit: Fermanagh and West Tyrone Future Health and Care Services | Western Health & Social Care Trust